Small modular reactor (SMR) model of the U.S. NuScale passes the NRC’s design certification review for the first time in the world
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction announced on Aug. 30 that a small modular reactor (SMR) model of the U.S. NuScale, which has a strategic partnership with Doosan, has completed the design certification review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
This is the first time that a small module nuclear power plant model has passed all of the U.S. NRC's design certification screening process.
Passing the NRC design certification review means that the safety and reliability of NuScale's SMR model are recognized in the global nuclear power plant market.
Based on this, NuScale will be able to carry out SMR projects not only in the U.S., but also in Canada, the Czech Republic and Jordan around the world.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction's first SMR-related order is expected to be a project being pursued by the UAMPS (Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems) in the U.S. state of Idaho.
The project, with a total size of 720MW, consists of 12 60MW SMRs and will start construction in 2023 and run commercial operations in 2029. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction is planning to start construction after receiving orders for main materials and equipment starting next year.
"We have strengthened our strategic partnership with NuScale by completing a $44 million stake investment in NuScale last year," said Na Ki-yong, head of Nuclear Power BG at Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction. "We will supply at least $1.3 billion worth of major SMR equipment in the U.S. and global markets through NuScale, and we expect more orders as we expand our business."
While SMR is emerging as a major alternative to carbon reduction to cope with climate warming, it is considered to have dramatically improved safety, economic feasibility and operability compared to existing large nuclear power plants.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been supporting NuScale's SMR since 2013, and major nuclear power countries such as Korea, France, the U.K., and China are also stepping up efforts to develop SMRs.
