Holtec targets US-wide nuclear reactor fleet using learnings at Palisades
June 5 - Holtec International's plan to deploy two small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Palisades nuclear plant site in Michigan by 2030 shows how developers are looking to capitalize on soaring U.S. power demand and build on existing nuclear expertise to deploy the first wave of next-generation reactors.
In a partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Holtec plans to build 10 GW of SMRs in North America through the 2030s, starting at Palisades.
Holtec is restarting the decommissioned 800 MW Palisades nuclear power plant and plans to install two of its SMR-300 reactor units, based on existing light water reactor (LWR) technology, at the same facility.
The cost of deploying SMRs at Palisades will be lower than on sites with no atomic presence, Patrick O'Brien, Holtec International's director of Government Affairs and Communications, told Reuters Events.
Existing nuclear sites offer developers a range of power and logistics infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. A proven history of safe operations can help minimise local opposition.
"In having environmental data, a trained and talented workforce, and the ability to interconnect to an established switchyard, the costs will be lowered," O'Brien said.
Holtec could also site up to four SMR units at the Oyster Creek nuclear power site in New Jersey, where the company plans to decommission a shuttered 625 MW boiling water reactor by 2029, he added.
MAP: US operational nuclear power plant sites
Holtec sees major growth potential for SMRs in the Mountain West region. A 4 GW fleet of SMR-300s could be deployed, mainly in Utah and Wyoming in the 2030s, supported by ongoing testing at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and recently passed legislation supporting nuclear power development in Utah, the company said on May 1.
'The new legislation supports our vision to start the incubation of our SMR-300 program in Utah and expand it into the Mountain West,' Holtec Chief Strategy Officer Admiral Roegge said in a statement.
Nuclear pioneers
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates 60 to 95 GW of new nuclear capacity could be built at operating or recently retired nuclear power plant sites across the country, according to a study published by the DOE in September 2024. Malwina Qvist, director of the Nuclear Energy Program at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), sees the potential for at least 80 to 100 GW at these sites.
A project led by Canadian utility Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to deploy four GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs at Ontario's Darlington nuclear power plant will also benefit from existing nuclear infrastructure and workforce.
The first SMR at Darlington will be the "first of its kind" in the G7 group of wealthy nations, OPG said.
CHART: Small modular reactor projects by country
U.S. utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently submitted a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) for the BWRX-300 SMR model, eyeing deployment of a first unit at its Clinch River site by 2032.
TVA could have a "second-mover advantage" following the planned deployment of the technology in Canada, according to Stephen Comello, senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives at the EFI Foundation.
TVA has a collaboration agreement with OPG which it said facilitates sharing of experiences that could reduce the financial risks of innovating new technology while taking advantage of both companies' extensive nuclear energy experience.
Strategies to overcome cost hurdles for new nuclear - download our webinar.
TVA's Clinch River site could host up to four SMRs and the company also plans to evaluate other nuclear locations for locating small reactors, a TVA spokesperson told Reuters Events.
DOE funds
Holtec is one of a small group of developers seeking to win funds from the DOE in a funding round for LWR SMR technology (Gen III+). Other LWR-based SMR reactors include Westinghouse's AP300 and NuScale's SMR 3.
In March, the Trump administration reissued a DOE tender for $900 million in federal funding to help de-risk deployment and removed a previous requirement for community engagement, underlining their support for new nuclear.
In Tier 1 funding, the DOE will provide $800 million for up to two consortia towards the deployment of Gen III+ reactors. In Tier 2, $100 million will support additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing design, licensing, supply chain, and site preparation issues.
If selected, Holtec would use Tier 1 funding to help complete licensing work and some initial groundwork, O'Brien said. Tier 2 funding would go towards manufacturing upgrades to prepare for SMR construction and environmental analysis for the Oyster Creek facility, where the company could install up to four SMR-300s following the Palisades project.
For exclusive nuclear insights, sign up to our newsletter.
Uncertainty over the cost of the first SMR reactors is a key challenge for developers looking to deploy commercial-scale units and drive down investment risks.
An official cost estimate announced this month for OPG's Darlington SMR project in Canada provides insight into the potential investments required to deploy LWR SMRs in the United States, according to Comello.
Construction of the four BWRX-300 SMRs at Darlington is estimated at C$20.9 billion ($15.2 billion), according to a statement released by the Province of Ontario. The cost of the first SMR is estimated at C$6.1 billion and costs for systems and services standard to all four SMRs are estimated at C$1.6 billion. Costs are expected to decline with each subsequent unit as efficiencies are gained.
"That is a good estimate for a first-of-a-kind light water reactor GEN-III SMR that has a sufficient design maturity, which I think is what Holtec should be on its way to," Comello said.
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Reuters
3 days ago
- Reuters
Holtec targets US-wide nuclear reactor fleet using learnings at Palisades
June 5 - Holtec International's plan to deploy two small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Palisades nuclear plant site in Michigan by 2030 shows how developers are looking to capitalize on soaring U.S. power demand and build on existing nuclear expertise to deploy the first wave of next-generation reactors. In a partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Holtec plans to build 10 GW of SMRs in North America through the 2030s, starting at Palisades. Holtec is restarting the decommissioned 800 MW Palisades nuclear power plant and plans to install two of its SMR-300 reactor units, based on existing light water reactor (LWR) technology, at the same facility. The cost of deploying SMRs at Palisades will be lower than on sites with no atomic presence, Patrick O'Brien, Holtec International's director of Government Affairs and Communications, told Reuters Events. Existing nuclear sites offer developers a range of power and logistics infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. A proven history of safe operations can help minimise local opposition. "In having environmental data, a trained and talented workforce, and the ability to interconnect to an established switchyard, the costs will be lowered," O'Brien said. Holtec could also site up to four SMR units at the Oyster Creek nuclear power site in New Jersey, where the company plans to decommission a shuttered 625 MW boiling water reactor by 2029, he added. MAP: US operational nuclear power plant sites Holtec sees major growth potential for SMRs in the Mountain West region. A 4 GW fleet of SMR-300s could be deployed, mainly in Utah and Wyoming in the 2030s, supported by ongoing testing at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and recently passed legislation supporting nuclear power development in Utah, the company said on May 1. 'The new legislation supports our vision to start the incubation of our SMR-300 program in Utah and expand it into the Mountain West,' Holtec Chief Strategy Officer Admiral Roegge said in a statement. Nuclear pioneers The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates 60 to 95 GW of new nuclear capacity could be built at operating or recently retired nuclear power plant sites across the country, according to a study published by the DOE in September 2024. Malwina Qvist, director of the Nuclear Energy Program at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), sees the potential for at least 80 to 100 GW at these sites. A project led by Canadian utility Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to deploy four GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 SMRs at Ontario's Darlington nuclear power plant will also benefit from existing nuclear infrastructure and workforce. The first SMR at Darlington will be the "first of its kind" in the G7 group of wealthy nations, OPG said. CHART: Small modular reactor projects by country U.S. utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently submitted a construction permit application to the Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) for the BWRX-300 SMR model, eyeing deployment of a first unit at its Clinch River site by 2032. TVA could have a "second-mover advantage" following the planned deployment of the technology in Canada, according to Stephen Comello, senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives at the EFI Foundation. TVA has a collaboration agreement with OPG which it said facilitates sharing of experiences that could reduce the financial risks of innovating new technology while taking advantage of both companies' extensive nuclear energy experience. Strategies to overcome cost hurdles for new nuclear - download our webinar. TVA's Clinch River site could host up to four SMRs and the company also plans to evaluate other nuclear locations for locating small reactors, a TVA spokesperson told Reuters Events. DOE funds Holtec is one of a small group of developers seeking to win funds from the DOE in a funding round for LWR SMR technology (Gen III+). Other LWR-based SMR reactors include Westinghouse's AP300 and NuScale's SMR 3. In March, the Trump administration reissued a DOE tender for $900 million in federal funding to help de-risk deployment and removed a previous requirement for community engagement, underlining their support for new nuclear. In Tier 1 funding, the DOE will provide $800 million for up to two consortia towards the deployment of Gen III+ reactors. In Tier 2, $100 million will support additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing design, licensing, supply chain, and site preparation issues. If selected, Holtec would use Tier 1 funding to help complete licensing work and some initial groundwork, O'Brien said. Tier 2 funding would go towards manufacturing upgrades to prepare for SMR construction and environmental analysis for the Oyster Creek facility, where the company could install up to four SMR-300s following the Palisades project. For exclusive nuclear insights, sign up to our newsletter. Uncertainty over the cost of the first SMR reactors is a key challenge for developers looking to deploy commercial-scale units and drive down investment risks. An official cost estimate announced this month for OPG's Darlington SMR project in Canada provides insight into the potential investments required to deploy LWR SMRs in the United States, according to Comello. Construction of the four BWRX-300 SMRs at Darlington is estimated at C$20.9 billion ($15.2 billion), according to a statement released by the Province of Ontario. The cost of the first SMR is estimated at C$6.1 billion and costs for systems and services standard to all four SMRs are estimated at C$1.6 billion. Costs are expected to decline with each subsequent unit as efficiencies are gained. "That is a good estimate for a first-of-a-kind light water reactor GEN-III SMR that has a sufficient design maturity, which I think is what Holtec should be on its way to," Comello said.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Reuters
US reactor builders need bigger fuel deals to avoid supply crunch
June 4 - The U.S. Department of Energy's commitment to supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Westinghouse, Kairos Power, TerraPower, Radiant Industries and TRISO-X brings demonstration small modular reactors (SMRs) closer to reality. The first four firms are developing SMRs and have also received support from the DOE's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. TRISO-X, a subsidiary of SMR developer X-energy, is building a facility in Tennessee to produce HALEU-based TRISO fuel. The DOE selected the five companies in April under a multi-billion dollar nuclear fuel availability program launched in 2020. U.S. nuclear development activity has soared as surging power demand from AI accelerates the need for low carbon power generation. SMRs offer smaller capacities and land requirements than conventional large-scale nuclear plants, as well as longer operating cycles and increased efficiencies. 'TerraPower is pleased to see the commitment from President Trump's Department of Energy to supporting advanced nuclear energy, and the fuel needed for next generation reactors that allow them to operate more safely and efficiently than the current light-water reactor technology,' a TerraPower spokesperson told Reuters Events. Trump wants to accelerate a new wave of nuclear plant construction and on May 23 he ordered the DOE to issue a plan to expand production of several nuclear fuels, including HALEU, within 120 days. He also ordered the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to streamline regulations and fast-track new licenses for reactors. Most SMR designs plan to use HALEU nuclear fuel and the U.S. has minimal production capacity. Developers have been racing to secure supplies of HALEU amid fears that a lack of domestic nuclear fuel supply chain could delay development of the industry. Russia is the largest global supplier of the fuel and the Biden administration banned uranium imports from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The DOE's allocation of HALEU to the five developers 'provides material for initial core loads to build and demonstrate their designs,' Adam Stein, director of nuclear energy innovation at the Breakthrough Institute, told Reuters Events. Huge investments must be made in the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain to avoid bottlenecks in the coming years. 'Broader fuel availability will be needed for refueling and larger scale-up," Stein noted. "Lack of fuel availability to operate a reactor long-term is one concern potential buyers have right now." Fueling growth Westinghouse will use the fuel at its eVinci nuclear test reactor at National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) DOME facility at Idaho National Laboratory while TerraPower will use it to fuel its Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Kairos Power will use the material to produce HALEU TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel pebbles for its Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor in partnership with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 'The HALEU allocation from DOE will enable Kairos Power to demonstrate our advanced reactor technology, prove its ability to produce affordable nuclear heat, and generate crucial learning to support future fleet deployment,' Micah Hackett, Kairos Vice President, Fuels & Materials told Reuters Events. X-energy subsidiary TRISO-X is constructing a HALEU fuel fabrication facility at the DOE's site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Radiant Industries is seeking funding to build its Kaleidos Development Unit microreactor for testing at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Strategies to overcome cost hurdles for new nuclear - download our webinar. The U.S. HALEU supply chain needs to grow rapidly if SMR technology is to move beyond the research and demonstration stage and become commercially viable. SMRs will typically need to refuel every five to seven years, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 'DOE's announcement does not indicate whether or when additional allocations may be made available,' Steve Greene, Senior Fellow at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, noted. U.S. demand for HALEU could reach 50 metric tons per year by 2035, with additional amounts required each year, according to the DOE. Centrus Energy is currently the only U.S. maker of the fuel and has the capacity to produce 900 kilograms per year. CHART: Forecast global nuclear capacity 'Developers will be dependent upon additional legacy materials for first cores until a supply chain is established," Westinghouse said in a statement to Reuters Events. "These [DOE] allocations do build familiarity with handling and transporting HALEU materials which will ultimately benefit a larger commercial supply chain," the company said. 'We believe orders for advanced reactors are the primary demand signal that will be required to spur enrichment companies to invest in HALEU production capacity,' Hackett said. USA buys Last October, the DOE awarded ten contracts with companies to provide enrichment services that will help establish and build out a domestic supply of HALEU and low-enriched uranium (LEU), and for deconversion services. The contracts establish a framework for DOE procurement and the DOE must make purchase agreements before the companies can invest in new production capacity. The 10-year contracts will each offer a minimum of $2 million, with up to $3.4 billion available from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 'Investment in domestic HALEU production is still needed, and will require U.S. Government policy support as either an intermediate purchaser to provide adequate demand or through public-private partnerships in production facilities," Greene said. The DOE is behind schedule in implementing its nuclear fuel availability program and Trump's recent executive orders reiterated DOE's obligation to ensure that a long-term supply of enriched uranium is available for the continued operation of the projects, Greene noted. For exclusive nuclear insights, sign up to our newsletter. If government and private sector funding is provided, Centrus Energy could build a full-scale cascade producing six metric tons of HALEU per year within around 42 months, Dan Leistikow, vice president of corporate communications for Centrus, told Reuters Events. It would take a further six months to get another cascade online and another two months to get a third online, he said.
Rhyl Journal
4 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
O'Brien serves an ace with Flushing Meadows at the Curragh
The son of Wootton Bassett was sent off at 5-2 in the hands of Ryan Moore and made it game, set and match with ease in the Irish EBF Maiden, surging to an impressive length-and-a-half success in the six-furlong event. A Royal Ascot tilt may come too soon for the exciting two-year-old, but O'Brien has his eye on a return to Irish racing HQ for Group Two action later this month. Flushing Meadows (Wootton Bassett x Hence) strikes on debut as yet another exciting two-year-old scores this term for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien @curraghrace — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 4, 2025 'I'm delighted with him, he's a lovely horse,' said O'Brien. 'He was never away and he'll come forward loads. He'll have no problem getting seven furlongs. 'The reason those horses were here was in case they were Ascot horses. Ryan said he's lovely, but that Ascot might be a little bit too quick for him and to give him a little bit of time. 'He doesn't have to step up in trip and he might come back here for the Railway Stakes.' Flushing Meadows was bringing up a double for the Ballydoyle team after Moore got a fine tune from Amadeus Mozart in the opening Sky Bet For The Fans Irish EBF Maiden Another son of Wootton Bassett, he was the well-backed 10-11 favourite for his racecourse bow and although asked to knuckle down before two furlongs out, responded to his rider's encouragement to get the better of also-promising stablemate Dorset by half a length. It is a race O'Brien has won with Lope Y Fernandez (2019) and Point Lonsdale (2021) in the past and the leading players could prove key members for the Ballydoyle team in the future. O'Brien said: 'They are lovely big horses, they were never away so they are going to come forward plenty. 'Ryan liked him (the winner). He said he was a lovely horse and he wouldn't mind stepping up. 'He'll be a lovely horse next year, he's a very big horse. He was very green.'
