Two utility networks and governors from three states have endorsed a collaboration to study potential deployment of the NuScale small modular reactor.
Oregon-based NuScale announced the formation of the Western Initiative for Nuclear on Monday, following a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association. The group will study the potential for developing a multi-unit demonstration plant by 2024, possibly at the Idaho National Laboratory. The initiative involves Energy Northwest and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems, with the endorsement of the states of Idaho, Oregon and Arizona.
According to a NuScale release, the first plant would likely be built and operated by a consortium of regional utilities, with the potential for similar plants to be built in other states in the long term. Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency for 27 public utilities in Washington and operates the Columbia nuclear plant. Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems provides wholesale power to 45 public utilities in Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.
“Energy Northwest carefully investigated options for small modular reactors to fill future energy needs, including helping to integrate renewable sources,” Energy Northwest Vice President Dale Atkinson said in the NuScale release. “We selected NuScale as our technology of choice. The NuScale design offers clear benefits in safety, cost-effectiveness and ease of operation.”
NuScale, majority owned by Fluor, has designed a 45 megawatt SMR based on technology developed at Oregon State University. In an emergency, it can cool itself indefinitely without operator action, power or additional water, and as many as 12 units can be built at one site. The company is currently competing with SMR designs from Westinghouse and Holtec for Department of Energy funding to help develop and license the technology.