NUCLEAR POWER Direct

Welcome to the October issue of NUCLEAR POWER Direct, a monthly e-newsletter from POWER magazine that provides important nuclear power news and information, including articles on new technology, operations and maintenance best practices, industry trends, innovative projects, and much more.

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Amazon Backs Massive Nuclear SMR Deployment: 5 GW with X-Energy, Agreements With Energy Northwest, Dominion | In yet another major set of deals spearheaded by a tech giant in support of nuclear power development, Amazon will back the deployment of 5 GW of new X-energy small modular reactor (SMR) projects by 2039, starting with an initial four-unit 320-MWe Xe-100 plant with regional utility Energy Northwest in central Washington.

DOE Releases $900M to Spur Gen III+ Nuclear SMR Deployment, Targets Two 'First Mover' Projects | A $900 million funding opportunity released by the Department of Energy (DOE) on Oct. 16 seeks to spur “first mover” teams that could deploy the first two Gen III+ light water small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S. It will also provide funding for “fast follower” deployment support by addressing critical gaps that have long hindered the nuclear industry.

DOE Selects Four Companies to Boost U.S. HALEU Enrichment for Advanced Nuclear | The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded contracts with a total potential value of $8 million to four nuclear fuel companies to further U.S. enrichment capabilities for high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), a critical piece of the next-generation nuclear supply chain.

In Case You Missed It: ACU Secures NRC Permit to Build Research Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor | The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted Abilene Christian University (ACU) a construction permit to build its Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) facility on the university’s campus in Texas. The approval is the regulatory body’s first for a liquid-fueled advanced reactor, the first for a research reactor in decades, and its second for any advanced reactor.

Europe's SMR Alliance Endorses Nine Nuclear Projects in Push for 2030s Deployment | The European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)?has identified nine SMR projects it will support as its first batch of project working groups (PWGs). The effort marks a significant first step toward the alliance’s goal of deploying SMR technologies across Europe by the early 2030s.

U.S. Bank Commits $98 Million Toward NuScale SMR Project in Romania | A U.S. bank that supports technology exports to international groups is committing $98 million toward development of a small modular reactor (SMR) project in Romania.

Kazakhstan Voters Show Support for Country's First Nuclear Power Plant | Voters in Kazakhstan reportedly have approved a plan that would bring the country its first nuclear power plant. Election officials said 70% of voters in a referendum held October 6 support the strategy promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has said nuclear power is a way to move the country away from reliance on coal-fired generation.

Last Energy to Repurpose Welsh Coal Plant Site with 80-MW Micro-Nuclear Fleet | Micro-modular nuclear plant developer Last Energy has unveiled plans to deploy four 20-MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) power plants at the site of a former coal-fired power plant in South Wales.

What Are Microreactors and How Soon Could We See One in Operation | Microreactors are a class of very small modular reactors targeted for non-conventional nuclear markets. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supports a variety of advanced reactor designs, including gas, liquid-metal, molten-salt, and heat-pipe-cooled concepts. In the U.S., microreactor developers are currently focused on designs that could be deployed as early as the mid-2020s.