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Utah: 140MW Geothermal bid can beat the cost and performance of the proposed Nuclear SMR

January 27, 2023 by Dennis Wamsted

The U.S. state of Utah is processing an agreement for a new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) to provide baseline and dispatchable power. The SMR bid quotes a price of $89/MWh. But cost overruns will tie the state’s consumers to whatever high prices entail, says Dennis Wamsted at IEEFA. Now a geothermal bid from NV Energy has been presented that offers the same capacity at around $70/MWh. Wamsted explains why the 140MW geothermal project would meet … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Geothermal, Nuclear Tagged With: baseline, costs, dispatchable, electricity, geothermal, Nuclear, prices, renewables, SMR, UAMPS, US, Utah, variable

Small Modular Reactor cost overruns: the same old problems haunt new nuclear in Utah

November 25, 2022 by David Schlissel

Much hope is being placed on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) making new nuclear plants competitive. But David Schlissel at IEEFA summarises their research into the publications, updates and statements coming from the stakeholders involved with the SMR by UAMPS (Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems) and NuScale Power Corporation that shows that costs are going out of control, a persistent problem in the nuclear industry. The original target power … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: construction, costs, delays, electricity, Fluor, grids, Nuclear, NuScale, power, SMR, UAMPS, Utah

Geopolitics and energy security require the U.S. and its allies to lead on Nuclear

October 21, 2022 by Robert Ichord

Combine the current energy crisis with the geopolitical ambitions of Russia and China, and you have your reason for why the U.S. and its allies should prioritise nuclear, argues Robert Ichord at the Atlantic Council. All three nations have well-developed world-leading nuclear sectors. But it’s Russia that has been the largest exporter of nuclear reactors to the world market. Meanwhile, China has the most plants under construction at twenty. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: China, geopolitics, MNR, Nuclear, regulations, research, Russia, security, SMR, US

U.S. can’t hit net-zero power target by 2035 without Advanced Nuclear

July 1, 2021 by Charles Merlin

President Biden’s target of net-zero power generation by 2035 will be extremely challenging, if not impossible, argues Charles Merlin writing for IFRI. He says the best chance of achieving it is through advanced nuclear reactors, though the 2030+ switch-on dates of the new technology still won’t guarantee meeting Biden’s timescales. Why should the U.S. drive for advanced nuclear? Because of the known limitations of the other technologies. Wind … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: CCS, CCUS, coal, electricity, gas, grids, Nuclear, SMR, solar, storage, US, wind

Convolutional neural networks: facial recognition AI applied to analysis and design of Advanced Nuclear Reactors

June 23, 2021 by Dave Bukey

Scientists are looking for new ways to predict how materials survive high temperatures, pressures and corrosion levels, and design new materials that can do so. Temperatures can reach 800 Celsius in parts of solar energy plants and advanced nuclear reactors. Dave Bukey at the Argonne National Laboratory looks at research that uses convolutional neural networks – a type of AI – to uncover patterns in huge data sets. The method is over 2,000 faster … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Innovations, Nuclear Tagged With: AI, design, innovation, MoltenSalt, NeuralNetworks, Nuclear, SMR, solar

Micro-nuclear reactors: up to 20MW, portable, safer

April 22, 2021 by Christina Nunez

Scientists are working on micro-nuclear reactors that are so small they can fit on the back of a truck or a standard 40-foot shipping container, explains Christina Nunez writing for the Argonne National Laboratory. Deliberately small, generating up to 20MW, they could provide zero-carbon power in remote settings or supplement electrical power grid recovery. Another idea would be to locate them on remote highways for re-charging long distance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: charging, grids, HolosGen, Micro, Military, Nuclear, Oklo, SMR, transport, uranium, Westinghouse

Washington State (U.S.) bill could make it the home for next generation Nuclear

February 8, 2021 by James Conca

Nuclear may soon be getting a boost from Washington State in the north-west of the U.S. There, a bill is being presented to promote the manufacture and deployment of new nuclear reactors. It will provide generous tax incentives to nuclear investments in the state. It’s the sort of support that renewable energy technology is used to, yet nuclear struggles to get because of critics of nuclear energy. That opposition is very frustrating, explains … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: innovation, investment, jobs, Nuclear, NuScale, SMR, subsidies, TerraPower, TerrestrialEnergy, US, Washington, Xenergy

Nuclear: Does the West’s military need Small Modular Reactors?

December 7, 2020 by Lukas TrakimaviÄŤius

The development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), generating up to 300MW, are already getting support for civilian purposes. The military in Russia, China and the U.S. are also interested. It should reduce the reliance on long fuel supply lines, the defence of which costs lives. SMRs would be factory made and delivered on site. But Lukas TrakimaviÄŤius says many difficult questions must be answered before the West commits to this solution. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Military, NATO, NonProliferation, Nuclear, regulations, Russia, SMR, US

Study identifies causes of soaring Nuclear plant cost overruns

November 27, 2020 by David Chandler

Why does nuclear power cost so much when the technology has had decades to get it right? MIT’s David Chandler explains how researchers there have identified the main causes of the cost overruns in the U.S. It turns out that building new plants by copying existing designs actually costs more. That’s because site-specific constraints mean problems are being fixed during construction, adding to costs and delays. New types of concrete are being … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: construction, costs, design, Nuclear, SMR, SoftCosts

Nuclear in 2020: a global look ahead at policy, financing, politics, by country

January 8, 2020 by Dan Yurman

Dan Yurman presents his worldwide review of nuclear’s prospects. 19 nations are covered. He explains while some countries are planning to scale down nuclear, like South Korea and France, some are increasing investment, like China. Others remain stuck over policy, pricing, financing and politics (e.g. Japan, the U.S.). Exporters of plants, led by Russia, are making moves – not always easily - in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. R&D … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: Canada, China, electricity, France, India, investment, Japan, Nuclear, Poland, policy, Politics, pricing, Russia, SMR, SouthKorea, turkey, UK, US

Rolls Royce wants innovative financing for its first-of-a-kind nuclear SMRs

November 20, 2019 by Dan Yurman

Rolls Royce has made nuclear reactors for decades, small enough to fit inside nuclear submarines. It’s now adapting that expertise for the grid. Dan Yurman runs through the details of the firm's plans, including a look at its first-of-a-kind 440MW technology. Regulatory timescales will be kept short by developing the small modular reactors (SMRs) at existing licensed nuclear sites – with Cumbria and Wales its main targets. Importantly, an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: electricity, financing, investment, Nuclear, regulations, Rolls Royce, SMR

Small Modular Reactors: interview with NuScale’s Jose Reyes

June 10, 2019 by Dan Yurman

Dan Yurman has interviewed the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of NuScale Power, Jose Reyes. NuScale designs and markets small modular reactors (SMRs). Its NuScale Power Module can generate 60 MW: small units, alone or combined, can suit a far wider range of energy demand than standard reactors that deliver hundreds of MWs at a minimum. The comprehensive interview covers international and U.S. developments, including plans to commence … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: Canada, jobs, Jordan, Nuclear, NuScale, Romania, SMR, UAMPS, UK, US

SMR reactors: questions the “new nuclear” industry needs to answer

April 18, 2019 by Dan Yurman

The new energy world is full of ambition about future developments, not least nuclear. At some point hard questions have to be asked and answered. Dan Yurman is asking questions about next generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). For example, why take on the unknown material and regulatory risk of SMRs over the known risks of proven LWRs? Which governments and/or investors will back the $500m needed to get an SMR into production? Where are the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: Canada, China, HTGR, LWR, molten salt, Nuclear, Russia, SMR, South Korea, U.K., U.S.

Next generation nuclear: 25MW, smaller, safer, can be sited anywhere

April 10, 2019 by Dan Yurman

Dan Yurman looks at plans for Small and Micro Nuclear Reactors. A UK report on Micros that generate 30MW says it’s an opportunity for the country to own the IP and export units that are simple in design, factory constructed and capable of being sited in remote locations. Given the rough ride nuclear can get, the report warns that progress will depend on political, regulatory and financial support. Meanwhile, in the US, Westinghouse will have a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Nuclear Tagged With: Atomic Acquisitions, Micro, Nuclear, Nuvia, SMR, Westinghouse, WSP

Most read this week

  • Sodium-ion batteries ready for commercialisation: for grids, homes, even compact EVs by Carlos Ruiz | posted on September 11, 2023
  • Though the price shocks hurt, Renewables installed between 2021-23 saved Europe €100bn by Joe Myers | posted on September 18, 2023
  • 10 Carbon Capture methods compared: costs, scalability, permanence, cleanness by Ella Adlen | posted on November 11, 2019
  • Improved “Solar Thermochemical” process captures 40% of the sun’s heat to produce Green Hydrogen by Jennifer Chu | posted on November 29, 2023
  • Investing billions in new cross-border Electricity Transmission capacity can cover its costs within a few years by George Dimopoulos | posted on November 27, 2023
  • Italy: 71 GWh of additional Grid Storage required by 2030 says Terna by Sara Stefanini | posted on November 28, 2023
  • Middle East & Africa to export Hydrogen to Europe? Better to make green Iron & Steel and export that by Soroush Basirat | posted on November 23, 2023
  • Micro-nuclear reactors: up to 20MW, portable, safer by Christina Nunez | posted on April 22, 2021
  • Understanding the new EU ETS (Part 2): Buildings, Road Transport, Fuels. And how the revenues will be spent by Simon Göss | posted on February 6, 2023
  • What’s best for Hydrogen transport: ammonia, liquid hydrogen, LOHC or pipelines? by Herib Blanco | posted on May 5, 2022
  • How to manage price risk as the EU shifts from Russian Gas to Renewables by Kong Chyong | posted on December 1, 2023
  • Carbon Footprints for every product: the need for sector-specific, comprehensive granular data and accounting by Nicole Labutong | posted on November 30, 2023
  • Why we need a European Central Carbon Bank within the EU ETS framework by Robert Jeszke | posted on November 20, 2023
  • What does cutting-edge Smart Metering look like as Grids become increasingly complex? by Gridspertise | posted on November 23, 2023
  • Farming Algae for Carbon Capture: new research cuts “fouling.” Scale-up in 3 years? by David Chandler | posted on June 21, 2023
  • Clean energy is driving job growth, but skills shortages are a major barrier by IEA | posted on November 24, 2023
  • CBAM is now active. A guide to what companies must do to comply by Simon Göss | posted on October 27, 2023
  • Can Aluminium-air batteries outperform Li-ion for EVs? by Helena Uhde | posted on September 8, 2021
  • EU Energy Outlook to 2060: how will power prices and revenues develop for wind, solar, gas, hydrogen + more by Alex Schmitt | posted on December 6, 2022
  • EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework: new rules to turn greenwashing into genuine removals by Simon Göss | posted on May 16, 2023

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        Recent Posts

        What does cutting-edge Smart Metering look like as Grids become increasingly complex?

        How to manage price risk as the EU shifts from Russian Gas to Renewables

        Carbon Footprints for every product: the need for sector-specific, comprehensive granular data and accounting

        Improved “Solar Thermochemical” process captures 40% of the sun’s heat to produce Green Hydrogen

        Italy: 71 GWh of additional Grid Storage required by 2030 says Terna

        Investing billions in new cross-border Electricity Transmission capacity can cover its costs within a few years

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