US-based NuScale Power announced that together with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), it had executed agreements to facilitate the development of the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), which will deploy NuScale Power Modules™ at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Following the initial orders from UAMPS, Fluor Corporation and NuScale (as a subcontractor to Fluor) are to develop higher maturity cost estimates and initial project planning work for the licensing, manufacturing and construction of the CFPP.
NuScale in August 2020 was the first small modular reactor to receive design approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The company has developed a new modular light water reactor nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, and other process heat applications. It features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module capable of generating 77MW of electricity using pressurised water reactor technology. NuScale's scalable design—a power plant can house up to four, six, or 12 individual power modules reduces the financial commitments associated with gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities.
UAMPS, based in the State of Utah, provides power pooling, scheduling, resource management and other electric services to its members, which comprise 48 utilities in the states of Utah, Idaho, California, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico.
“The orders between NuScale and UAMPS mark the next major step in moving forward with the commercialisation of NuScale’s ground-breaking small modular reactor (SMR) technology,” said John Hopkins, NuScale Chairman and CEO. “This is the first step in a prudent deployment plan that could result in the order of NuScale Power Modules in 2022. We are appreciative of UAMPS’ strong partnership and collaboration as we forge a new energy frontier together.”
The orders are the result of recently signed agreements to manage and de-risk the development of the Carbon Free Power Project. These include the Development Cost Reimbursement Agreement (DCRA) between UAMPS and NuScale, and a $1.355 billion multi-year Financial Assistance Award from the US Department of Energy to CFPP LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAMPS established to develop, own and operate the CFPP.
In addition, UAMPS and Fluor Corporation have signed a cost-reimbursable development agreement to provide estimating, development, design and engineering services to develop the site-specific cost estimates for deployment of the NuScale technology at the INL site. UAMPS will continue to evaluate the size of the NuScale power plant while Fluor refines the engineering of alternatives to ensure that the plant is the best overall cost of energy and size to meet the CFPP participants’ subscription needs.
UAMPS CEO and General Manager Doug Hunter said: “The orders executed today allow for important progress in the development of the Carbon Free Power Project, and we are excited to take this next step alongside our partners NuScale Power and Fluor Corporation.”
NuScale and UAMPS expect that the initial orders will address the final step in the regulatory process to proceed with plans to build a NuScale Power Plant as they plan for and develop the Combined License Application (COLA) for the CFPP. The UAMPS COLA is expected to be submitted to NRC by the second quarter of 2023. NRC review of the COLA is expected to be completed by the second half of 2025, with nuclear construction of the project beginning shortly thereafter.
Photo: Artist's impression of the NuScale SMR design (Photo: NuScale Power)
