US targets small nuclear plants

New York – The US is preparing to revive its nuclear power industry, president Obama last month pledging over $8bn in conditional loan guarantees towards the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant in nearly three decades. The US Department of Energy, meanwhile, now has a budget to support up to nine new reactors.

With worldwide electricity generation set to rise 77% by 2030, nuclear power must be part of the solution to reducing global carbon emissions, said US secretary of energy Steven Chu, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. He also portrayed nuclear power as part of a technology race that the US had to get ahead in.

“Countries such as China, South Korea and India are making investments in nuclear power that are driving demand for nuclear technologies,” said Chu. “Our choice is clear: Develop these technologies today or import them tomorrow.

One of the most promising areas is small modular reactors (SMRs) – less than one-third the size of current plants, and could be made in factories and easily transported to sites ready to “plug and play” upon arrival. The modular construction process makes them more affordable by reducing capital costs and construction times.

SMRs could “significantly expand the options for nuclear power and its applications,” said Chu. “Their small size makes them suitable to small electric grids so they are a good option for locations that cannot accommodate large-scale plants.

“Their size would also increase flexibility for utilities since they could add units as demand changes, or use them for on-site replacement of aging fossil fuel plants. Some of the designs for SMRs use little or no water for cooling, which would reduce their environmental impact. Finally, some advanced concepts could potentially burn used fuel or nuclear waste, eliminating the plutonium that critics say could be used for nuclear weapons.”

In his 2011 budget request, President Obama requested $39 million for a new programme specifically for small modular reactors. The US energy department is currently exploring a partnership with industry to obtain design certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for one or two designs

“These SMRs are based on proven light-water reactor technologies and could be deployed in about 10 years,” said Chu. “We are also accelerating our R&D efforts into other innovative reactor technologies. This includes developing high-temperature gas reactors that can provide carbon-free heat for industrial applications, as well as advanced reactor designs that will harness much more of the energy from uranium.”

The US is also working to apply modeling and simulation technologies to accelerate nuclear R&D, with virtual reactors enabbling scientists and engineers to observe coolant flow, nuclear fuel performance, and even the reactor’s response to changes in operating conditions. This work is being led by a new research center called the Nuclear Energy Modeling and Simulation Hub. 

“These efforts are restarting the nuclear power industry in the US. But to truly promote nuclear power and other forms of carbon-free electricity, we need long-term incentives,” concluded Chu. “The single most effective step we could take is to put a price on carbon by passing comprehensive energy and climate legislation. Requiring a gradual reduction in carbon emissions will make clean energy profitable-and will fuel investment in nuclear power.”