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Why the NuScale design certification submittal is a big deal

1/12/2017

1 Comment

 
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NuScale Power executive team at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on January 12, 2017 (Image from NRC)
Today the NuScale Power executive team officially delivered a 12,000-page application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Comission to license the NuScale small modular reactor power plant design. Nuclear engineers are really excited because this is the first reactor of its kind to undergo the licensing process, bringing it a huge step closer to commercialization, but why should you be excited?

Another clean energy option
The global demand for energy is growing, and we need more clean energy options to reduce pollution, impact on the environment, and mitigate climate change. NuScale's reactors and power plant are designed to be scalable and flexible to meet a variety of energy needs, including generting carbon-free electricity, load-following with renewables, desalinating water, supplying microgrids, and more. NuScale's goal is also to make it economic by driving down the cost and construction time with modularity and assembly-line fabrication. This is a game-changer for the energy industry.

A successful public-private partnership
In a time when it seems that everything coming out of the government is negative...it's nice to hear about a project that's gone well. NuScale recieved investment from the US Department of Energy, matched by Fluor Corporation, to develop this design and submit it to the regulator for review. Therefore this milestone shows that public-private partnerships work and sharing the risk between the government and private sector allows for large innovative projects like this to succeed.

Paving the way for more advanced nuclear
Advanced nuclear reactors are safer, can recycle nuclear waste as fuel, use different fuels like thorium, and even be made small enough for household use. NuScale is the first design of this new era of advanced nuclear to go through the licensing process, which will pave the way for even more innovative reactors to come to market and create a truely sustainble clean energy system alongside renewables.


Full disclosure, I work for NuScale so of course I'm excited! Having only been with the company for a few months, I've already been very impressed by the level of dedication and enthusiam by the team to design an energy source that has the potential to change the world. There is still a lot more work to be done but this milestone represents a huge step forward.
1 Comment
Kirk Gothier
1/14/2017 05:57:46 am

Great Job!

The huge exponent in Einstein's elegant equation provides all the guidance humans need to deliver clean air and water, sustainable communities and prosperity, for billions, forever…

Fortunately, the EPA Clean Power Plan supports nuclear power “to protect the planet for future generations” as part of an "all of the above” energy strategy: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan/fact-sheet-clean-power-plan-opportunities-nuclear-power.

Unfortunately, the renewables/natural gas industries continue to oppose this strategy, while billions live in poverty globally and tens of millions die each year from energy poverty and air pollution: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/ http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/3-MP-PovertyFacts-E.pdf.

Consequently, it is also imperative that we complete the following work ASAP, to finally identify a clear path towards compliance with the Climate Change targets and emission mandates in the Paris Climate Agreement, Clean Power Plan and California Assembly Bill 32:

http://docketpublic.energy.ca.gov/PublicDocuments/15-IEPR-11/TN205398_20150719T170914_Kirk_Gothier_Comments_Kirk_Gothier_Comments_on_Climate_Adaptati.pdf.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Idaho National Laboratory, Jim.Richmond, Idaho National Laboratory, IAEA Imagebank