Cameco And GNF Will Cooperate With GE To Develop BWRX-300 SMR
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) (ENS Corporate Member), Cameco Corporation and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF-A) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding to explore potential collaboration to advance the commercialisation and deployment of BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Canada and around the world.
GEH's BWRX 300 seems to be in many Places, including Canada. They will need LEU+ which is also called HALEU. The BWRX is a BWR recactor, but smaller than today's BWR reactors, like the one at Unit 2 of Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle plant. Westinghouse is manufacturing ADOPT fuel which is 6% enriched for Unit 2 of Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle plant, will the BWRX 300 use the same fuel.
Is this also why GEH are happy to have GLE at Wilmington? they will also need fuel for the proposed BWRX 300 plants in USA? which I suspect also uses LEU+ or HALEU for them, seems as if GNF-A have an agreement with Cameco in Canada for fuel production as well?
Westinghouse Electric Company announced on March 14 that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the use of the company’s Advanced Doped Pellet Technology (ADOPT) fuel pellets in U.S. pressurized water reactors. That approval brings the company closer to loading lead test assemblies containing ADOPT accident tolerant fuel pellets in Unit 2 of Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle plant. Lead test plans: Southern Nuclear announced in January 2022 that it had signed an agreement to load four lead test assemblies into Vogtle-2 in “the first planned installation of enrichments of uranium-235 greater than 5 weight percent in a domestic commercial reactor.” According to Westinghouse, the agreement calls for “licensing and manufacturing in 2023.” High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) includes uranium enriched to between 5 and 19.75 percent U-235, above the traditional 5 percent threshold for commercial reactors. The fuel pellets that are to be installed at Vogtle-2 contain uranium enriched to 6 percent—1 percent higher than the current license limit.
According to Westinghouse, “Through its increased uranium density, ADOPT fuel . . . enables U.S. customers to improve fuel cycle economics and extend their operating cycles.”
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 SMR selected for Saskatchewan
28 June 2022
Share Utility SaskPower has selected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's (GEH) small modular reactor (SMR) for potential deployment in the province in the mid-2030s after an assessment process in which it looked at several SMR technologies. GEH's vision of a BWRX-300 plante (Image: GEH)
SaskPower said it made its selection after an assessment that focused on factors including safety, technology readiness, generation size, fuel type and expected costs of electricity. The "independent and comprehensive" assessment process also included close collaboration with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and a review by independent engineering firm Calian.
"This is an important milestone as Saskatchewan works towards a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Don Morgan, minister responsible for SaskPower, adding that conducting an independent and comprehensive evaluation while also collaborating with the other provinces on joint SMR strategy had been "extremely valuable" in reaching the milestone.
Although all of Canada's uranium production comes from Saskatchewan, the province does not currently use nuclear power. However, Saskatchewan's government identified development of SMR technology as a goal for growth in its 2019 development roadmap, and earlier this year, alongside the governments of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta, it released a joint strategic plan setting out a path for developing and deploying SMRs.
OPG has already selected the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 for their Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario, where Canada's first commercial, grid-scale, SMR could be completed as early as 2028. SaskPower's selection of the same technology helps enable a pan-Canadian, fleet-based approach to SMR deployment, it said, which offers advantages including lower regulatory, construction and operating costs while also eliminating first-of-a-kind risk.
The Government of Ontario said it supported SaskPower's choice. "By selecting the same technology developer, Saskatchewan is following Ontario's lead to build their first SMR, and build on Canada's legacy of leading the world in clean nuclear power," it said. "Saskatchewan-produced uranium linked with Ontario nuclear knowledge and expertise will create exciting new opportunities for both provinces at home and abroad."
SaskPower said it will not make a decision on whether to build an SMR until 2029, but in the meantime will continue with project development, licensing and regulatory work, including identifying an appropriate site for Saskatchewan's first nuclear power facility. It is currently conducting a detailed technical evaluation of potential regions that could host an SMR, and is expected to identify suitable regions this year.
"The BWRX-300 is the ideal SMR technology solution for SaskPower and customers that want to make an impact on climate change and energy security in a meaningful timeframe," GEH President and CEO Jay Wileman said, adding that there is potential for "great synergy" between its planned work with SaskPower and ongoing work with OPG, which expects to submit a construction licence application later this year
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR boiling water reactor design and its existing, licensed GNF2 fuel design, a unique combination that GEH says positions it to deliver an "innovative, carbon-free baseload power generation source" this decade. The design is attracting international interest, and GEH has memoranda of understanding or other agreements in place with companies in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Sweden and the USA.
GE Hitachi Announces Dominion Energy as Investor in BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor
May 21, 2018 Dominion to Invest in Development of New SMR Design
WILMINGTON, North Carolina-May 21, 2018-GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) today announced that Dominion Energy will provide funding to help progress the BWRX-300, a 300 MWe small modular reactor design being developed by GEH.
“Engaging customers is critical to product development, and we are thrilled that Dominion will invest in our new SMR to advance its commercialization,” said Jon Ball, Executive Vice President of Nuclear Plant Projects for GEH. “The BWRX-300 represents a significant improvement in the economics of new nuclear, an imperative for the long-term viability of the industry. It is more efficient, simpler, safer and needs a fraction of the footprint compared to the current fleet of light water reactors.”
Dominion Energy’s funding of the BWRX-300 provides seed money to further work that could lead to commercializing this technology. The company has no plan at this time to build one at any of its commercial nuclear stations.
“We believe that nuclear power has a vital role in ensuring a clean, reliable, and cost-effective supply of electricity to meet the needs of a growing economy,” said Dan Stoddard, Chief Nuclear Officer-Dominion Energy. “We also believe the innovations GE Hitachi is pursuing with the BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor have the potential to make it a strong competitor in the marketplace. Our view is that a modest investment now to support further development of this technology is in the interest of both companies.”
The BWRX-300 leverages the design and licensing basis of the NRC-certified ESBWR. Through dramatic design simplification, GEH projects the BWRX-300 will require up to 60 percent less capital cost per MW when compared to other water-cooled SMRs or existing large nuclear designs. If these savings can be achieved, the BWRX-300 can become cost-competitive with power generation from combined cycle gas and renewables. The BWRX-300 is the company’s 10th generation boiling water reactor design.
-more- About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety. Follow GEH on LinkedIn and Twitter @gehnuclear. About Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,000 megawatts of electric generation, 14,800 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion Energy operates one of the nation’s largest natural gas storage systems with approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves nearly 6 million utility and retail energy customers. The company operates three nuclear stations, two in Virginia and one in Connecticut. For more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company’s website at www.dominionenergy.com.
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GEH's vision of a BWRX-300 plante (Image: GEH)
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