Next Step in U.S. Nuclear Market Could Be Built Around Small Modular Reactors
With federal approval to build the first U.S. nuclear reactors in 30 years granted on Feb. 9, two units in the state of Georgia set to generate 2,200 MW of power will proceed. However, the nuclear industry sees future growth in a more scaled-down version known as the small modular reactor, or SMR. Firms already are developing SMRs, ranging in size from 45 MW to 300 MW.
"It's time to take the next step, and just about everyone agrees that small reactors are the way forward," says Chris Mowry, president of the Babcock & Wilcox division that is developing, with Bechtel Corp., a small nuclear reactor, called mPower. Several other companies are pushing into the SMR marketplace, too, including NuScale Power, in partnership with Fluor Corp.; Holtec, in partnership with The Shaw Group Inc., and Westinghouse Co. All SMRs are in a preliminary design stage; at the earliest, the first reactor is expected in 2020.