NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) has the capability of using mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel in addition to conventional light water reactor fuel, a study by the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has confirmed. NuScale Power said in a statement yesterday that the study commissioned from the NNL supports the suitability of the company’s NuScale Power Module – a 160 MWt, 50 MWe integral pressurized water reactor with natural circulation – for the effective disposition of plutonium. NNL business leader for fuel and reactors Dan Mathers said, “The National Nuclear Laboratory has been pleased to work with NuScale on a commercial basis to help demonstrate the capability of their SMR in relation to MOX fuel.” He added, “Reuse of the plutonium for low carbon power generation could be a valuable way forward for dealing with the UK’s nuclear legacy.”
World Nuclear News 21st Jan 2016 read more »
With a major effort now underway to build 19 GWe of large nuclear reactors over the next two decades, the UK appears to be headed towards doubling down on its atomic energy bet with a push to open up opportunities for small modular reactors (SMRs). UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd told Parliament in November 2015 that SMRs have “excellent” potential and that the current government of UK Prime Minister David Cameron “is doing as much as it can” to support the technology. To that end the UK government announced £250m ($378m) funding over the next five years for nuclear research and development including a competition to identify the “best value small modular reactor design for the UK.” The UK is doubling funding for the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC’s) energy innovation program to £500m over five years, including research into SMRs.
Energy Post 21st Jan 2016 read more »