The US is debating the regulatory process of modular nuclear power plants. The commissioning of a modular reactor helps to improve energy supply and reduces dependence on coal and gas. But to make it happen soon, the licensing process needs to be sped up. Building large, conventional nuclear power plants is slow and expensive. That is one reason why the industry is betting its future on a new generation of smaller, advanced reactors. These are still under development but promise carbon-free energy. In addition, the power plants in the clean grids of the future support the ups and downs of renewable energy.
Fuel for modular nuclear power plants also comes from Russia
Russia’s war in Ukraine is prompting Western countries to break their dependence on Russian energy exports. Green technologies are being promoted to replace fossil fuels. The start-up company Oklo Inc. says it can build a new nuclear power plant in about a year. It’s not big, but it will be built quickly. Construction can begin as soon as the regulatory process allows, according to Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s chief executive officer.
However, the type of fuel that would power the reactor is in short supply and is currently sourced mainly from Russia. A domestic supply would take years to get going.
Conventional nuclear reactors have a capacity of about 1 gigawatt (1,000 megawatts). However, Oklo, a Silicon Valley-based company, has developed a 15-megawatt system that would provide clean electricity to about 10,000 homes. The first plant would fit into a small warehouse and cost about $50 million. According to DeWitte, Oklo can produce another system every three to six months. Thanks to Oklo’s modular design, the nuclear power plant is quickly assembled on site and put into operation.
“All these things we could do in a few months,” DeWitte said. “It takes time, but it’s not years.”
DeWitte says the design is ready, but he cannot proceed without a permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo submitted an application in 2020, which the authority rejected in January, citing. “Important details are missing” – That was the reason given. The company says its technology is different from conventional reactors and so is its application; it expects to submit a revised version by the end of the year.
China and Russia already operate modular nuclear power plants
Expectations for advanced nuclear energy have been high for years. China and Russia have already built some small modular nuclear reactors. The US industry has little tangible to show so far. Given the current crisis, governments could give more support to this sector as a possible solution. Much of the regulatory process will be accelerated if the US government makes this sector a national security priority. Efforts are already underway on Capitol Hill to streamline the licensing process for small reactors.
Image: INSP – US Department of Energy programm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Using more nuclear energy at home will eventually free up fuel supplies in the US. And once the production process is in full swing, small modular reactors could be shipped in parts and assembled overseas. This also reduces other countries’ demand for coal or natural gas.
Several reactor concepts for modular nuclear power plants already exist
Some small reactor designs may be more difficult to accelerate. TerraPower LLC announced plans last year for a 345-megawatt power plant in Wyoming that is scheduled to come online in 2028. The company, founded by billionaire Bill Gates, is expected to submit its application for an NRC licence late next year.
Read also: “Japan joins Bill Gates Terrapower“.
Even with full government support, construction initially takes four to five years, said Jeff Navin, TerraPower’s director of external affairs. Once production is running smoothly, subsequent plants would take about three years and cost about $1 billion each.
Part of the challenge is that most of these advanced reactors use new technologies. Unlike the conventional nuclear power plants in operation today, TerraPower will use liquid sodium as a coolant instead of water. It also contains a molten salt storage system to store heat. This will allow operators to increase power when there is a strong demand for electricity. Oklo’s concept uses liquid metal as a coolant.
Fuel also a hurdle
Apart from the technical challenge, the power plants use a new type of fuel that is currently only available in limited quantities. Fuel for conventional reactors is produced with modern centrifuges that enrich uranium to a concentration of 4 to 5 %. For HALEU – High Assay Low-enriched Uranium – this concentration is increased to almost 20 % with the same machines. Most of the world’s supply of HALEU comes from Russia, and there is no commercial supplier in the US.
Centrus Energy Corp. is trying to fill this gap. The company already has NRC approval and a demonstration plant with 16 centrifuges capable of producing about one tonne of HALEU a year. Chief Executive Officer Dan Poneman said he needs 42 months to install 120 centrifuges, enough to produce 6 tonnes a year, and another six months to add another 120 machines, at a cost of about $500 million to $1 billion.
The nuclear industry is known for its slowness, due in large part to critical safety issues. However, the timelines of companies pushing for the next generation of the industry show that these advanced technologies could be ready for use in the near future.
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