NuScale Power and Enfission Sign MOU to Explore Use of Next Generation Nuclear Fuel Technology
May 15 2019 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Agreement could spur new improvements in
core design, performance, and levelized electricity cost of
NuScale’s small modular reactor
Today, NuScale Power and Enfission, LLC, a joint venture of
Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR) and Framatome, announced a
memorandum of understanding to explore the use of next generation
nuclear fuel technology in NuScale’s small modular reactors. While
NuScale’s plant design is already the most resilient nuclear
reactor in the world, Lightbridge Fuel™ could spur improvements in
core design, performance, and levelized costs of electricity.
“As NuScale continues making progress to bring America’s first
small modular reactor to market, we are excited to begin work with
Virginia-based Enfission, the industry leader in metallic fuel rod
technology,” said NuScale Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
José Reyes. “We look forward to further optimizing all aspects of
our unparalleled advanced nuclear reactor design.”
Enfission is developing and commercializing next generation
nuclear fuel technology that will significantly improve the
economics and safety of existing and new reactors. NuScale and
Enfission will collaborate on the development of research and
testing programs to explore the application of Enfission’s nuclear
fuel rod technology, which is well suited for NuScale’s natural
circulation design. The company’s advanced fuel rod design is
expected to increase core performance, extend core life, reduce
refueling outages and offer reduced levelized cost of
electricity.
On December 1, 2015, Framatome signed an agreement with NuScale
to manufacture fuel assemblies for its SMR based on conventional
ceramic uranium dioxide fuel and provide testing and analyses
needed for its Nuclear Regulatory Commission design certification
application. The addition of Enfission’s Lightbridge Fuel™ into the
equation further solidifies this relationship and will provide
future flexibility on fuel types depending on the reactor
demands.
“We look forward to working with NuScale Power, with our
patented metallic fuel technology contributing to NuScale’s
ground-breaking progress in introducing the country’s first small
modular reactor,” said Seth Grae, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Lightbridge and Enfission.
NuScale’s technology is the world’s first and only SMR to
undergo design certification review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC). The NRC is scheduled to complete its review of
NuScale’s design in September 2020.
About NuScale Power
NuScale Power is developing a new modular light water reactor
nuclear power plant to supply energy for electrical generation,
district heating, desalination, and other process heat
applications. This groundbreaking small modular reactor (SMR)
design features a fully factory-fabricated NuScale Power Module™
capable of generating 60 MW of electricity using a safer, smaller,
and scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology.
NuScale's scalable design – a power plant can house up to 12
individual power modules – offers the benefits of carbon-free
energy and reduces the financial commitments associated with
gigawatt-sized nuclear facilities. The majority investor in NuScale
is Fluor Corporation, a global engineering, procurement, and
construction company with a 60-year history in commercial nuclear
power.
NuScale is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has offices in
Corvallis, Ore.; Rockville, Md.; Charlotte, N.C.; Richland, Wash.;
Arlington, Va.; and London, UK. Follow us on Twitter:
@NuScale_Power, Facebook: NuScale Power, LLC, and Instagram:
nuscale_power.
NuScale has a new logo, brand, and website. Watch the
short video.
About Enfission, LLC
Enfission is a US-based 50-50 joint venture between Lightbridge
Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR) and Framatome. Enfission was established
January 25, 2018 to complete the development, regulatory licensing,
and commercial deployment worldwide of nuclear fuel assemblies
based on multi-lobe metallic twisted fuel technology. Enfission
will produce Lightbridge Fuel™ assemblies initially for operators
of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants, then follow with
production of Lightbridge Fuel™ assemblies for other types of
reactors and for markets around the world.
www.Enfission.net
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190515005212/en/
Media Contact:Diane Hughes, NuScale Vice President,
Marketing & Communicationsdhughes@nuscalepower.com(C)
503-270-9329
Enfission Contact:David Waldman/Natalya RudmanTel. +1
855-379-9900
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