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Released February 27, 2024 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Westinghouse Electric Company (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania) has officially entered the U.K.'s small modular reactor (SMR) race by submitting its AP300 design to the U.K. Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The application is the first step for the technology to enter the General Design Assessment (GDA) process required for all nuclear power technologies in the U.K.. The company is aiming to be the second company, after Rolls-Royce (London, England), to have its SMR technology accepted for assessment. The Rolls-Royce SMR has a significant lead on its rivals, having advanced to the second stage of the assessment process last April. For additional information, see April 19, 2023, article - Rolls Royce Mini Nuclear Reactor Clears First Hurdle.
"The AP300 SMR builds on the pedigree of the already approved AP1000, and we are very optimistic that the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will approve our GDA application," said David Durham, Westinghouse energy systems president. "The U.K. regulators are already very familiar with the AP300 SMR's underpinning technology, so we look forward to working with them to progress the timely development and deployment of this advanced, proven technology in the U.K.."
The AP300 small modular reactor is the only SMR based on a large Generation III+ reactor already in operation globally, the AP1000 technology, which is licensed in the U.K. The company claimed that this gives it the edge over rivals that are facing "first-of-a-kind technologies and risks," predicting it has "confidence that the first operating unit will be available in the early 2030s." Westinghouse has also inked a deal with Community Nuclear Power Limited in the U.K., which bills itself as the country's only independent developer of SMR technology. The agreement will see the partners develop four SMRs in northeast England using the Westinghouse AP300 design. They will be the first privately funded SMR deployment in Europe. There is no specific information available yet regarding location, permits, nor investment.
Others looking to capitalise on the U.K. government's support for mini nuclear reactors include Electricite de France (EDF) (Paris, France), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina), Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida) and NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) (Portland, Oregon). GE applied to enter the GDA process more than a year ago, but it is still waiting. Industrial Info reported last October that these six companies had made it through to the next round of the U.K.'s small nuclear technology competition. They will be eligible to compete for government contracts after they are announced this spring. For additional information, see October 17, 2023, article - Six Companies in Race for U.K. Mini-Nuclear Contracts.
In December 2022, Rolls-Royce revealed a shortlist for the locations of its first proposed U.K. SMR manufacturing plant and potential sites for the first SMR power plant. Industrial Info is tracking two projects with an investment value of more than US$500 million. The 470-megawatt (MW) SMR is based on small pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The company plans to build 16 SMRs, each capable of generating enough power for 450,000 homes for 60 years. Each plant will take up just 10% of the footprint of a conventional nuclear power plant. The first plants will be operational by the early 2030s, claimed Rolls-Royce, with 10 completed by 2035.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The application is the first step for the technology to enter the General Design Assessment (GDA) process required for all nuclear power technologies in the U.K.. The company is aiming to be the second company, after Rolls-Royce (London, England), to have its SMR technology accepted for assessment. The Rolls-Royce SMR has a significant lead on its rivals, having advanced to the second stage of the assessment process last April. For additional information, see April 19, 2023, article - Rolls Royce Mini Nuclear Reactor Clears First Hurdle.
"The AP300 SMR builds on the pedigree of the already approved AP1000, and we are very optimistic that the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero will approve our GDA application," said David Durham, Westinghouse energy systems president. "The U.K. regulators are already very familiar with the AP300 SMR's underpinning technology, so we look forward to working with them to progress the timely development and deployment of this advanced, proven technology in the U.K.."
The AP300 small modular reactor is the only SMR based on a large Generation III+ reactor already in operation globally, the AP1000 technology, which is licensed in the U.K. The company claimed that this gives it the edge over rivals that are facing "first-of-a-kind technologies and risks," predicting it has "confidence that the first operating unit will be available in the early 2030s." Westinghouse has also inked a deal with Community Nuclear Power Limited in the U.K., which bills itself as the country's only independent developer of SMR technology. The agreement will see the partners develop four SMRs in northeast England using the Westinghouse AP300 design. They will be the first privately funded SMR deployment in Europe. There is no specific information available yet regarding location, permits, nor investment.
Others looking to capitalise on the U.K. government's support for mini nuclear reactors include Electricite de France (EDF) (Paris, France), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International (Wilmington, North Carolina), Holtec International (Jupiter, Florida) and NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE:SMR) (Portland, Oregon). GE applied to enter the GDA process more than a year ago, but it is still waiting. Industrial Info reported last October that these six companies had made it through to the next round of the U.K.'s small nuclear technology competition. They will be eligible to compete for government contracts after they are announced this spring. For additional information, see October 17, 2023, article - Six Companies in Race for U.K. Mini-Nuclear Contracts.
In December 2022, Rolls-Royce revealed a shortlist for the locations of its first proposed U.K. SMR manufacturing plant and potential sites for the first SMR power plant. Industrial Info is tracking two projects with an investment value of more than US$500 million. The 470-megawatt (MW) SMR is based on small pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The company plans to build 16 SMRs, each capable of generating enough power for 450,000 homes for 60 years. Each plant will take up just 10% of the footprint of a conventional nuclear power plant. The first plants will be operational by the early 2030s, claimed Rolls-Royce, with 10 completed by 2035.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
