DOE Grant Supports SMR Project

The U.S. Dept. of Energy is making a $400-million grant to support the Tennessee Valley Authority’s development of a small modular reactor at the Clinch River Nuclear site, in Tennessee. The TVA and GE Vernova had sought twice that amount from the DOE’s Generation III+ SMR program, which is promoting development and deployment of advanced small modular nuclear reactors to supply rising demand for electricity by consumers, data centers, AI needs, and industry.

“Small modular reactors could provide reliable power for these energy-intensive sectors, with the added benefit of flexible deployment thanks to their compact size and modular design,” according to DOE.

The total cost of the project is reported to be $5.4 billion. TVA has forecast the cost will be lower for future projects as SMRs become more standardized. Other engineering companies and electric utilities also supported the TVA and GE application.

A construction permit for the installation was filed by TVA with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in May of this year.

The SMR that TVA hopes to install is based on GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s BWRX-300 technology. It is expected to be the first SMR in the U.S. when it starts operating in the early 2030s, though the same technology is being installed in Darlington, Ont., by Ontario Power Generation.

BWRX-300 is a 300-megawatt reactor unit that is described as a simplified version of a previous technology (Boiling Water Reactor) that uses natural circulation and passive safety systems to generate electric power without carbon emissions.

“The BWRX-300 is the only commercial SMR technology being built right now in the Western world, and this grant will accelerate its deployment in the U.S.,” stated GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik. “We would like to recognize the DOE for its leadership in support of the nuclear industry and for championing public-private partnerships to advance the next generation of nuclear technology and bolster the nation’s energy security.”