NEWS |
round up
SMRs SLOVAK POWER UTILITY Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) and its partners have received a US government grant of $5m to support the selection of the best site for the construction of SMRs in Slovakia. The grant from the USA’s Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) project will cover the period until the end of 2025.
US NUCLEAR START-up Blue Energy, spun out from MIT’s Nuclear Science & Engineering Department in 2023, has announced a $45m Series A fundraise. Blue Energy also introduced a modular NPP that can be centrally manufactured in existing shipyards. The funding will be used to advance Blue Energy’s core engineering work and site development.
ISOTOPES FRANCE’S FRAMATOME AND Romanian nuclear utility Nuclearelectrica have completed a feasibility study to assess the possibility of producing medical isotope lutetium-177 (Lu-177) at Unit 2 of the Cernavoda NPP in Romania. The two companies have now begun implementation of the project, including detailed engineering. The launch of a full-scale commercial irradiation service for medical isotopes is targeted for 2028.
SCIENTISTS AT CHINA National Nuclear Corporation’s China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) have achieved a breakthrough in low-temperature distillation of boron-10 isotopes to stably produce enriched boron-10 products, Global Times reported. According to CIAE, boron-10 possesses excellent neutron absorption characteristics and can be used as a neutron absorber or radiation shielding material.
SPACE
THE UK UNIVERSITY of Leicester has launched a new spin-out company, Perpetual Atomics, which seeks to revolutionise the application of nuclear technology in space. Perpetual Atomics aims to commercialise know-how and expertise in space nuclear power developed over more than 20 years.
SHIPPING SPECIALISTS AT RUSSIA’S Baltic Plant (BZ – Balkisky Zavod) in St Petersburg together with representatives of co-operating organisations have launched the right-side reactor unit on the nuclear icebreaker Yakutia. The reactor was brought to minimum controlled power level, and the launch equipment was calibrated. Yakutia is the fourth vessel to be built as part of project 22220.
justification for dismantling and
fragmentation of the drums and associated equipment, which are located in the plant’s radiologically contaminated primary circuit. The Amentum team will also be available to support further stages of decommissioning at INPP. “The FIDIC service provider, Amentum, is a significant contributor to the dismantling of the steam drum separators. Their large international experience both as a FIDIC engineer and while working in various similar nuclear power projects will be a contributory factor to the success of the project’s joint implementation,” said Linas Baužys, Director General of INPP. INPP’s two RBMK-1500 reactors generated up
to 70% of Lithuania’s electricity before the plant was shut down in 2009.
Sweden Used fuel repository approval Swedish radioactive waste management company Svensk Kärnbränslehantering (SKB) has received an environmental permit to build and operate the final repository for used nuclear fuel in Forsmark and the encapsulation facility in Oskarshamn. The Land and Environmental Court also granted SKB an enforcement order so that initial work in the Forsmark area can start at the turn of the year. SKB CEO Stefan Engdahl said this was an important milestone that sets the conditions for how the facilities are to be built and operated. Work can start now at both sites even if the judgment is appealed. The works that are within the framework of the ordinance, and which can start when the County Administrative Board in Uppsala County has approved the control programme, include protective measures and preparatory work. In Forsmark, where the repository is to be built, it involves forest felling, excavation work, construction of an area for rock storage, construction of a bridge over the cooling water channel, filling of the operating area and facilities for nitrogen purification. The court set conditions for the permit
intended to limit the impact on the environment through protective measures against noise, groundwater lowering, discharge to water, as well as to protect species and natural areas in Forsmark. SKB must also conduct environmental monitoring regarding information preservation and monitoring after closure. Before SKB can start tunnelling, an approved
safety report from the Radiation Safety Authority (SSM – Strålsäkerhetsmyndigheten) is required. Construction of the repository in Forsmark will begin two years before the encapsulation facility in Oskarshamn, as the construction times are of different lengths. Both facilities are expected to be put into operation in the mid-2030s. Swedish government approval for the
repository and encapsulation plant was granted on 27 January 2022. The final repository project is expected to bring investments of around SEK19bn ($2bn).
12 | November 2024 |
www.neimagazine.com
United States DOE opens SMR funding applications The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a solicitation to fund up to $900 m to support the initial US deployment of Generation III+ small modular reactor (SMR) technologies in two tiers of funding. Plans for the funding were initially announced in June. DOE said the funding, made possible in part
by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has been established to help to strengthen the US domestic nuclear industry. It will also spur follow-on reactor projects, which are vital to achieving clean energy and climate goals and meeting the growing demand for clean, reliable power. Applications are due by 17 January 2025. DOE offers funding in two tiers:
● Tier 1: First Mover Team Support, managed by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), plans to provide up to $800m to support up to two first-mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, and end-users or power off-takers committed to deploying a first plant while at the same time facilitating a multi-reactor, Gen III+ SMR orderbook.
● Tier 2: Fast Follower Deployment Support, managed by the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), plans to provide up to $100m to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in areas such as design, licensing, supplier development, and site preparation.
“Revitalising America’s nuclear sector is key to adding more carbon free energy to the grid and meeting the needs of our growing economy – from AI and data centres to manufacturing and healthcare,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm. She continued: “Thanks to the President and Vice President’s Investing in America agenda, the nation’s nuclear industry is poised to lead the world in innovative advanced reactor technologies, which will create high- paying jobs while providing the flexible and reliable clean energy we need to support a thriving clean energy future.” Commenting on the announcement John
Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, also said: “Next-generation nuclear energy will play an important role in building the clean power sector of the future,” adding: “Today’s funding will boost American innovation, bolster our national security, and tackle the climate crisis.” Meanwhile, White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi noted: “All across the country, we are seeing a muscular resurgence in American energy innovation – from bringing back previously shuttered nuclear plants to bringing online new technologies and new reactors.”
DOE estimates the US will need
approximately 700-900 GW of additional clean, firm power generation capacity to reach net- zero emissions by 2050. Nuclear power is seen as a proven option to meet this demand. ■
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