Nuclear Energy

Dutch nuclear energy development and consultancy company ULC-Energy BV has completed a study - supported by C-Job Naval Architects - analysing the design and economic implications of using civil nuclear reactor technology to power a Newcastlemax bulk carrier.

The study compares a nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier - a cargo vessel with a maximum beam 50 metres and maximum length overall of 300 metres - with one powered by conventional very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and one powered by green ammonia. In collaboration with independent ship design and engineering company C-Job, the study explores the design impact, greenhouse gas emissions, and commercial performance for each fuel type.

The study concluded that the structural and safety modifications needed to integrate a nuclear reactor into a Newcastlemax bulk carrier would have minimal impact on its cargo capacity. In addition, nuclear propulsion offers the lowest operational cost per tonne shipped, significantly lower than alternatives like ammonia or VLSFO. While the lower fuel costs of a nuclear-powered ship are partly offset by the higher capital expenditures required to construct the vessel, the study found that a nuclear-powered Newcastlemax bulk carrier could sail longer, faster, and cheaper, all without producing greenhouse gas emissions.

Furthermore, it said a nuclear-powered Newcastlemax has nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions, lower even than a ship powered by green ammonia, demonstrating the potential of nuclear propulsion to support the shipping industry's decarbonisation goals.

"This latest study from ULC-Energy furthers our mission to deliver unique, fundamentals-based analysis on the integration of nuclear technologies into various industries," said ULC-Energy CEO Dirk Rabelink.

Niels De Vries, head of energy at C-Job, added: "The study is another remarkable milestone for the adoption of nuclear power in marine vessels. It shows how C-Job can work in a flexible manner with its clients and combine knowledge in designs that create significant value. Furthermore, it is another great example of the capability of C-Job with system integration and risk-based design to ultimately make shipping more sustainable. We valued the collaboration with ULC-Energy, specialists on nuclear technology and fuel, and look forward to working together on future projects."

The study acknowledged that civil nuclear maritime propulsion faces licensing, operational, and other challenges. "Given that most nuclear reactor designs being considered for maritime use are still in the conceptual phase, current estimates for the capital costs of such ships are limited; however, accuracy will improve as projects mature," ULC-Energy said.

"One possible drawback in the use of a nuclear propulsion system is the cost of its installation," according to C-Job. "However, this is offset by the low operational expenditures and by the fact that a reactor can be used for its entire service life, either in a second ship or by extending the service life of the first ship."

In February, ULC-Energy completed a study commissioned by global mining company BHP to investigate the potential use of civil nuclear technologies to power commercial maritime vessels. That study compared key characteristics of various civil reactor designs against the requirements for the potential use in commercial maritime shipping and evaluated a range of regulatory, operational and commercial challenges, such as port access, licensing and vessel classification, capital costs, and crew training and certification.

The shipping industry consumes some 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July last year, the shipping industry, via the International Maritime Organization, approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by, or around, 2050.

Germany based radioactive waste management and nuclear decommissioning company Nukem Technologies Engineering Services has been acquired by Tokyo-based IT company Muroosystems, marking a new chapter free from Russian ownership.

The company said it had successfully closed its acquisition by Muroosystems following the signing of a purchase agreement in May. It said the move marks “a pivotal moment” for the company.

The decision to sell Nukem, based in Karlstein am Main, was made in 2022 in view of the difficult geopolitical situation and the challenges involved in continuing the company under a Russian owner, Nukem said in a statement.

Nukem Technologies had been owned by Russia’s state nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport.

“Since then, extensive negotiations have taken place with potential buyers who recognised the immense value of Nukem’s products and its highly skilled team,” the statement said.

“The completion of the acquisition heralds a new beginning for Nukem during these turbulent times. This transition allows Nukem to re-enter markets that were previously inaccessible under the former ownership structure, ensuring that the company’s expertise and long-standing experience can once again be fully leveraged.”

Nukem said that as part of the closing process, all necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained and commitments to third parties have been diligently fulfilled. The effective date of the economic transfer of the company to the new owner is 25 September 2024.

Nukem managing director Thomas Seipolt said: “With Muroosystems, we will continue to build on our strong foundation in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management while seeking new growth opportunities.

“We are particularly excited about expanding into innovative areas like nuclear fusion technology, which aligns with the global shift toward sustainable energy solutions.”

Nobuaki Ninomiya, an executive board member at Muroosystems, said that by integrating advanced nuclear-related technologies with Muroosystems’ expertise in IT, “we will create new synergies that will boost our competitiveness in developing next-generation energy solutions”.

He said: “In the future, we plan to solidify our business base in Europe and actively expand into the Asian market.”

Muroosystems, established in 2006, focuses on IT solutions centred around decentralized data centres and engages in power development projects primarily based on renewable energy.

First safety-related concrete has been poured for the nuclear island at Unit 4 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power station in Fujian province, eastern China, state company China National Nuclear Corporation announced.

Zhangzhou-4 is the fourth Hualong One plant under construction at the site, which will eventually house six Hualong One reactors.

Construction of Zhangzhou-1 began in October 2019, of Zhangzhou-2 in September 2020 and of Zhangzhou-3 in February 2024. Zhangzhou-1 is the first unit scheduled to begin commercial operation, potentially by the end of the year.

The Hualong One, or HPR1000, is an indigenous pressurised water reactor unit that incorporates elements of CNNC’s ACP1000 and China General Nuclear’s ACPR1000+ reactor designs.

“The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant is the starting point for the mass production of Hualong One,” CNNC said. “So far, four units have started construction, and safety and quality are all under good control.

Unit 1 is expected to be put into operation and generate electricity in 2024; unit 2 is fully advancing the relevant work before cold testing; unit 3 started construction on 22 February this year; and the preliminary work of units 5 and 6 is progressing in an orderly manner.”

The Zhangzhou project is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a joint venture between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).

China has 56 commercial reactors in operation, the same number as France and second only to the US, which has 94. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency it has 28 commercial nuclear power units under construction.

Of those 28 plants, 17 are Hualong One units under construction at eight sites – one unit each at Ningde, Shidaowan and Fangchenggang; two units each at Changjiang, Lufeng, Taipingling, Sanaocun and Jinqimen; and four units at Zhangzhou.

There are also two Hualong One plants in operation outside China, both in Pakistan at the Kanupp nuclear station, also known as Karachi.

Nuclear power still provides just about 5% of China’s electricity generation, compared to 65% in France and 18% in the US.

Nucleoeléctrica Argentina says it has secured the necessary funds to carry out the Atucha 1 life extension project.

The President of the company, Alberto Lamagna, made the announcement ahead of its planned shutdown on 29 September, after 50 years of operation.

Atucha I, a 362 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor, entered commercial operation in 1974 and had a design life in its operating licence of 32 equivalent years of full power. The first extension, with an amendment to the operating licence, began in 2018 when that 32-year mark was reached.

Argentina's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) said during this first extension phase that Nucleoelectrica "had to carry out studies and establish programmes that would ensure ... that the systems and components adequately preserve the functionalities for which they were designed, thus guaranteeing operation under the safety conditions with which the plant was licensed. The studies and maintenance tasks necessary to meet this requirement had to obtain approval from the ARN".

The duration of the amended operating licence was for the equivalent of 5 years operation at full power, or 10 years from 2014, which ends on 29 September. Following the shutdown, ARN said, the next stage of the Long Term Operation (LTO) project will see it "verify in detail the implementation of the updates and improvements required ... to raise the design bases of the facility to a higher level of security than that with which it was originally licensed".

Nucleoeléctrica Argentina put the refurbishment programme's cost at USD463 million in 2023 when it launched a fundraising round of bond sales to cover the LTO cost and construction of a dry storage facility for used fuel.

Lamagna said: "The project will allow Atucha I to operate for 20 more years, ensuring its contribution to the national energy matrix and promoting the development of technical capabilities that will position Argentina in the global nuclear services market."

Background

Atucha 1 was designed and built by KWU, which was a joint venture of Germany's Siemens and AEG. Over time, KWU was fully owned by Siemens, before being sold to the reactor business of France's Areva which is now owned by EDF and trading as Framatome. However, Argentina now has an experienced supply chain of its own for pressurised heavy water reactors, having completed and brought into operation the similar Atucha 2 reactor in 2016.

It has become common for pressurised heavy water reactors like Atucha 1 to undergo refurbishment, which typically involves replacing pressure tubes and fuel channels, to enable another two decades of operation. Nucleoeléctrica Argentina said 2000 jobs would be created as it modernised "all the processes and systems of the plant."

Iran says it has three nuclear energy reactors under construction, with site and technology selection processes under way for more - and has also outlined planned nuclear fuel cycle and research reactor developments.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran's plans for its nuclear energy sector were highlighted at a side event at the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Conference in Vienna.

A Russian-designed VVER unit with a capacity of 915 MWe is already in operation at Bushehr on the Persian Gulf coast. Two further units featuring VVER-1000 units are planned. It said unit 2, which had first concrete poured in 2019 and the core catcher installed this month, has a scheduled installation of its reactor pressure vessel "30 months later", and physical start-up scheduled for 55 months later, which would be in 2029. The plan is for first concrete for unit 3 in the last quarter of 2024.

The country's goal is to reach 20 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2040 and the meeting heard that site selection and planning was taking place for an unspecified number of other plants. Earlier this year the AEOI announced the start of work at a site in Hormozgan province that it says will eventually be home to four new nuclear reactors.

During the series of presentations in the event 50 Years of Nuclear Technology in Iran: Success Stories, the country's history with research reactors was also highlighted, as well as plans to develop the domestic fuel cycle capabilities.

Research reactors

The Tehran Research Reactor is a 5 MW pool-type research reactor which has operated since 1967 and been used for research reactor purposes and also radioisotope production. New applications developed for it in recent years, the event also heard, include gem colouring in 2017, neutron imaging in 2019 and fuel irradiation and testing from 2020.

A replacement research reactor, the 10 MW Isfahan Research Reactor (IRR10), is being built "based on the expertise and knowledge of Iranian experts". Construction began in 2022 and the main utilisations are expected to be fuel testing and radioisotope production. There is also a plan to establish "an international nuclear science and technology training centre".

The applications of the research reactors such as for medical use, pest control, irradiation, disinfection and food safety, were also highlighted.

There are currently six irradiation sites in operation and a similar amount under construction with the aim of slashing the 30% of agricultural product currently lost and boosting food safety, with irradiation of spices specifically mentioned.

Other applications included a plant breeding department, developing cotton, soybean, rice, tangerines and ornamental plants as well as new organic fertilisers and use of the sterile insect technique to tackle pests, among other applications:

Nuclear fuel cycle

The meeting heard that the country has open pit mines at Khoshuomi, Narigan and Saghand, plus Ardakan Yellowcake Production Plant and Saghand Yellowcake heap-leaching plant. The session heard that the plan is to design and fabricate fuel for the Tehran, Isfahan and Modernised Arak Research Reactor and the "Darkhovein Power Reactor (IR-300)" in the next five years. The Darkhovein - also known as Darkhovin - reactor is a proposed Iranian-designed 300 MW power reactor.

In order to achieve the planned 20 GW of capacity by 2040, the meeting was told that a number of steps have been, or are, necessary:

• Aerial exploration of uranium mines across more than half of the surface area of Iran
• Design and construction of uranium ore processing plant and yellowcake production unit (heap leaching system)
• Design and construction of a conversion plant to produce uranium oxide and UF6,
• Design and construction of a zirconium cladding, fuel rod, and fuel assembly manufacturing plant for light water reactors and plate-type fuel for the Tehran research reactor, including quality control and pre-irradiation testing
• Design and construction of infrastructure for the irradiation of fuel samples and post-irradiation testing

The country is also developing accident tolerant nuclear fuel, and looking at the design and construction of pre-disposal and near surface disposal facility for low and intermediate level radioactive waste.

Cooperation with the IAEA and Non-Proliferation

The presentation focused on the achievements and plans Iran says it has for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and details were given of the many areas of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and World Association of Nuclear Operators over the past 50 years:

Elsewhere at the IAEA's General Conference, the status of the country's non-proliferation treaty actions was covered. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said: "With regard to the NPT Safeguards Agreement, it is a matter of concern that significant safeguards issues remain outstanding after a number of years and that we appear to have reached an impasse. Iran’s implementation of the activities set out in the Joint Statement between myself and Iran in March last year has stopped. However, my correspondence so far with the new government has been constructive and open and I hope to visit the country in the not-too-distant future ... it is critical that the Agency is able to provide credible assurances that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful."

In his statement to the general conference, Mohammad Eslami, Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that "the realisation of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East has become more important than ever" and added "the cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the Agency continues in an honest and extensive manner. The number of the Agency's designated inspectors in Iran is incomparable to any other Member States. More than one fifth of all inspections carried out by the Agency across the world in 2023 took place in Iran over our nuclear facilities, while Iran’s nuclear facilities constitute only three percent of the total number of nuclear facilities worldwide".

The first safety-related concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 4 at the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in Fujian province, China National Nuclear Corporation announced. The plant will eventually house six Hualong One reactors.

In May 2014, the local government gave approval for Phase I of the Zhangzhou plant, comprising two AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration gave approval in December 2015 for the AP1000 units and confirmed site selection in October 2016. Construction of Phase I had originally been expected to start in May 2017. However, CNNC subsequently decided to use the HPR1000 (Hualong One) design instead. Two more Hualong One units are planned for Phase II of the plant and a further two proposed for Phase III.

Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020.

CNNC issued the environmental impact assessment for Zhangzhou units 3 and 4 in October 2020. In September 2022, China's State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One units as Phase II of the Zhangzhou plant.

"The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant is the starting point for the mass production of Hualong One," CNNC said. "So far, four units have started construction, and safety and quality are all under good control.

"Unit 1 is expected to be put into operation and generate electricity in 2024; unit 2 is fully advancing the relevant work before cold testing; unit 3 started construction on 22 February this year; and the preliminary work of units 5 and 6 is progressing in an orderly manner."

The Zhangzhou project is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a joint venture between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).

The first two demonstration units of CNNC's version of the Hualong One design at the Fuqing plant in Fujian province have both already started up. Unit 5 entered commercial operation on 30 January 2021, with unit 6 following on 25 March 2022. Two Hualong One reactors have also been constructed as units 2 and 3 of the Karachi plant in Pakistan's Sindh province. These entered commercial operation in May 2021 and April 2022, respectively.

In addition to Zhangzhou units 1-4, CNNC is also building two Hualong One reactors as units 3 and 4 of the Changjiang plant, in Hainan province, construction of which began in March 2021 and December 2021, respectively.

It is also preparing to start construction of Phase I of the Jinqimen plant in Zhejiang province, which will feature two Hualong One reactors.

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy announced on September 24 four new Gain vouchers to help companies advance microreactor technologies, identify potential sites capable of hosting a nuclear-powered data centre, and prevent corrosion in molten salt reactors.

Gain is the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear. Like all Gain vouchers, these – the fourth and final round for fiscal year 2024 – do not give companies direct financial awards.

Instead, they provide access to the nuclear research capabilities and expertise of the DOE’s national laboratories. All awardees are responsible for a minimum 20% cost share, which could be an in-kind contribution.

The awardees are:

Tennessee-based ANA, who will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to identify potential sites in the US that could host advanced nuclear capacity and data centres.

Antares Nuclear of California will work with ORNL to perform an independent technical audit of the company’s heat pipe–cooled microreactor, called Antares R1, to verify core neutronics and thermal hydraulics.

Nano Nuclear Energy of New York will collaborate with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to evaluate the novel heat exchanger design of Zeus, its modular microreactor, through computational modelling and sensitivity analysis.

Missouri-based Sigma-Aldrich will work with INL to begin to standardize test methods for detecting oxide impurities in salts to prevent corrosion issues in molten salt nuclear reactors and other high-temperature industrial applications.

The DOE also announced this week that it had awarded 19 Nuclear Science User Facilities Rapid Turnaround Experiment (RTE) projects totalling approximately $1m (€900,000).

The awards were granted to 19 principal investigators from different institutions including universities and industry. Each project supports the advancement of nuclear energy.

The DOE said these RTE projects aim to improve the understanding of material behaviour under irradiation, which is crucial for the development of more resilient materials for nuclear applications.

Research topics covered by the awards include irradiation effects on high entropy carbide ceramics, multi-principal element alloys, zirconium alloys, reactor pressure vessel steels, steel cladding, ceramic-based waste forms and structural characterisation of irradiated metallic fuels.

NANO Nuclear Energy's novel heat exchanger concept, intended for use in the Zeus microreactor, a technical audit of the Antares R1 thermosiphon-cooled microreactor, a study to develop purity tests for molten salts, and a screening process to identify potential sites for nuclear-powered data centres have been chosen to receive funding from the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) programme.

The GAIN initiative was launched in 2016 to help businesses overcome critical technological and commercialisation challenges of nuclear energy technologies through a voucher system, giving stakeholders access to the DOE's R&D facilities and infrastructure to support the cost-effective development of innovative nuclear energy technologies. All awardees are responsible for a minimum 20% cost-share, which could be an in-kind contribution.

The recipients of the final round of funding for 2024 are:

Advanced Nuclear Advisors LLC, to partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on:

• Project SparkHub: Nuclear-Powered Data Center Development

Antares Nuclear, Inc, partnering with ORNL on:

• Independent Analysis of Antares R1 Core Design

NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc, partnering with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on

• Independent Assessment of a Novel Heat Exchanger Concept for Open-Air Brayton Cycle

Sigma-Aldrich Inc (doing business as MilliporeSigma), partnering with INL on:

• Development of Oxygen IR Calibration Standards for High-Purity Chloride Salts

NANO Nuclear Senior Director and Head of Reactor Design Massimiliano Fratoni said the award will enable the company to work alongside INL to further refine and progress its design, adding that the partnership will be "pivotal" for its future deployment. "The heat exchanger is an enabling component of our patent-pending ZEUS microreactor design, allowing us to keep the system size compact and simplifying its design to match our vision of developing portable, secure and reliable nuclear microreactors to benefit mankind," he said.

NANO will collaborate with INL to conduct an independent evaluation of the heat exchanger design for microreactor, which is designed to fit within a 45-foot high cube container and features a power conversion unit capable of generating 1 to 2 MW of electricity without the use of fluid coolant. A key aspect of this design is its ability to dissipate heat from the reactor vessel using an open-air Brayton cycle. The collaboration with INL will involve the development of a computational model to analyse and verify critical attributes of the heat exchanger essential to reactor operations, providing a comprehensive assessment of its performance.

The Antares R1 is described by the company as a kilowatt-scale, rapidly deployable microreactor designed to power critical infrastructure capabilities in "austere and remote" locations on Earth and in space. Earlier in September, the company announced it had been awarded USD3.75 million in funding from the US Air Force to accelerate the development of their microreactor.

The first used fuel has been placed into a space-saving storage rack at the storage pond for Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor fuel at the Thorp reprocessing plant on the Sellafield site in Cumbria, UK.

The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp) plant ceased reprocessing in 2018 after 24 years of operation. The facility is now being used to store used nuclear fuel until the 2070s.

In order to increase the storage capacity of the Thorp receipt and storage ponds, a new design of fuel can storage rack has been developed. These new racks - known as 63-can racks - are taller but have a smaller footprint than the previous design. Each rack can store 63 fuel cans, while current storage compartments can hold up to 20 fuel cans.

Fuel that was already being stored in the pond is being transferred into the new storage racks and all future fuel receipts will be stored in this way.

"Since the change of approach to managing spent fuel, it was clear we would need to innovate to be able to safely store everything we need to in the Thorp pond," said Roddy Miller, Sellafield Ltd's nuclear operations director. "These racks will increase fuel capacity from 4000 tonnes to 6000 tonnes, meaning we can accommodate all current and future arising, negating the need for a new storage facility.

"It's a great example of collaboration between ourselves, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Group, EDF Energy, and our supply chain. Everyone involved should be proud of their contribution."

Weighing 7 tonnes and standing 5.5 metres high, the stainless steel containers are being built by a consortium of Cumbrian manufacturers (including Carlisle-based Bendalls Engineering and Workington's West Cumberland Engineering) and Stoke-based Goodwin International. Between them, they will manufacture 160 racks. Another 340 racks will be needed in the future.

Because fuel will be stored for longer than was originally intended, the pond at Thorp has required other alterations including raising the pH level to avoid corrosion and installing new cooling capacity.

Three of the UK's seven AGR plants are currently in the defueling stage: Hunterston B, Hinkley Point B and Dungeness B. Four AGR plants are still in operation. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool are currently expected to operate until March 2026. Heysham 2 and Torness are currently due to generate until March 2028.

US computer technology company Oracle wants to power a new data centre through nuclear energy, according to the firm’s chief technology officer Larry Ellison.

Speaking during a recent earnings call, Ellison confirmed the cloud computing giant has “already got building permits” for three small modular reactors, without giving details.

Ellison highlighted the complexity and scale of the projects Oracle has under development, saying, “We’re in the middle of designing a data centre that’s north of a gigawatt. We found the location and the power source.

“We’ve looked at it, they’ve already got building permits for three nuclear reactors. These are the small modular nuclear reactors to power the data centre”.

Ellison gave no details of a location and timeline for the project.

With data centre power demands skyrocketing, nuclear power has become an attractive option for companies hoping to source larger amounts of energy whilst minimising carbon emissions.

In April this year, Amazon Web Services, a subsidiary of the online retail giant founded by Jeff Bezos, acquired US power producer Talen Energy’s Cumulus data centre campus at the Susquehanna nuclear power station in Pennsylvania.

AWS, which provides cloud computing platforms, aims to develop a 960 MW data centre campus on the site, which gets its power from the Susquehanna nuclear station.

Last week, US-based utility Constellation Energy announced the signing of a power purchase agreement with Microsoft, a 20-year deal that will also see the restart the long-shuttered Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Pennsylvania.

Constellation said the tech company wants to use energy from the nuclear plant to fill the power consumption of its data centres with carbon-free sources.

The SMART100 small modular reactor design has been granted standard design approval by South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) applied for standard design approval of the SMART100 in December 2019. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) began its review of the application in August 2021.

The NSSC announced it has now granted standard design approval for the reactor at a meeting today (Thursday).

The SMART100 (System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor 100) is an advanced version of the original SMART design, which became the world's first SMR to receive standard design approval in mid-2012.

SMART is a 330 MWt pressurised water reactor with integral steam generators and advanced safety features. The unit is designed for electricity generation (up to 100 MWe) as well as thermal applications, such as seawater desalination, with a 60-year design life and three-year refuelling cycle.

While the basic design of the SMART is complete, development has been stalled by the absence of any orders for an initial reference unit. It was developed by KAERI, which had planned to build a demonstration plant to operate from 2017.

The SMART100 builds upon the safety, economic, and operational benefits of the SMART, offering enhanced power output and safety features. SMART100's development prioritised safety improvements, including the integration of a fully passive safety system. This system is capable of maintaining reactor cooling without the need for external power, using natural forces like gravity and fluid density differences to ensure the safe shutdown and cooling of the reactor during emergencies.

Along with these safety enhancements, SMART100 also offers increased thermal output, rising from 330 MW to 365 MW, while its electrical output has been boosted from 100 MW to 110 MW, significantly improving efficiency while maintaining a compact design.

KAERI said the simplified and modular design of SMART100 also improves its economic feasibility. Key components such as the steam generator and reactor coolant pumps are integrated into a single vessel, reducing the risk of major accidents like large pipe breaks. Additionally, the reactor can maintain safe conditions without requiring emergency power generators or operator intervention during accident scenarios.

"The upgraded model is now ready for global export, particularly to Saudi Arabia, a key partner in the development of this technology," KAERI said.

KAERI President Han Gyu Joo said: "The standard design approval for SMART100 is a crucial milestone in demonstrating its proven safety and readiness for commercialisation. We are committed to advancing SMART technology and ensuring its successful export to global markets."

In September 2019, South Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed to collaborate on the commercialisation of the SMART SMR. Under the memorandum of understanding, the two countries agreed to work together to refine the design of the SMART reactor. Korea will also assist in gaining Saudi design approval of the reactor, as well as cooperating in the construction and operation of a SMART reactor in Saudi Arabia. The partners will also promote the SMART design to other Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries considering the use of small reactors.

Great British Nuclear has announced that there are four companies remaining in the contest to select technology for the UK's proposed small modular reactor programme, with NuScale missing out.

There were initially six companies shortlisted last year by Great British Nuclear - the arms-length body set up to oversee the UK's plans for new nuclear. The six were EDF, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy International, Holtec Britain, Nuscale, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse Electric Company UK. The six were invited to submit initial tenders by July, and EDF, whose Nuward SMR was in the running, dropped out at that stage.

In a short statement on Thursday, Great British Nuclear (GBN) said it had now concluded the initial tender phase of the technology selection process and selected GE Hitachi, Holtec, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse, with NuScale - who had put forward the VOYGR SMR - not going through. The statement said: "In the next stage of the procurement process bidders will be invited to enter negotiations with GBN."

Reaction

Among those through to the next stage, GE Hitachi's UK country leader Andy Champ said: "We have big ambitions for deploying our SMR technology in the UK, so we are proud to advance to the next stage of GBN’s competition. With site works already under way in Canada for our first BWRX-300 – the most advanced SMR project in the G7 - we are in a strong position to lead SMR deployment in the UK by leveraging our expertise in other markets."

Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR CEO, said: “Rolls-Royce SMR is the UK’s only SMR company and is already 18 months ahead of competitors in the regulatory approvals process. Today’s news that we will progress to formal negotiation with GBN will help us to maintain this important first-mover advantage. Rolls-Royce SMR has been chosen by the Czech Republic to deploy their fleet of SMRs and is in the final two in Sweden’s SMR selection process. Success in the UK will further strengthen our position as the leading SMR company and ensure the UK is able to capitalise on this transformational opportunity for the domestic supply chain."

Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse President and CEO, said: "We are pleased that GBN recognises the advantages of the AP300 SMR design, which is based on an operating reactor that is already licensed in the UK. With proven technologies and regulator familiarity, the AP300 can get to market quickly, economically and with certainty. We look forward to working with GBN through the final review and selection process."

The background

GE Hitachi is putting forward its BWRX-300, a boiling water reactor, Holtec's SMR-300 is a 300 MWe pressurised water reactor, the Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe pressurised water reactor and Westinghouse's AP300 is a 300 MWe/900MWth pressurised water reactor. They all stress that their designs are based on existing technologies and will be able to be constructed at speed and benefit from modular production techniques.

In an interview earlier this year for the World Nuclear News podcast, GBN Chairman Simon Bowen said the planned timeline was for the SMR selection shortlist to be cut to around four after the submission of responses to the tender, with the goal of placing contracts by the end of the year with two or three technology providers - this would be for co-funding the technology all the way through to completion of the design, regulatory, environmental and site-specific permissions process, and the potential to place a contract for the supply of equipment. Each selected technology would have an allocated site with the potential to host multiple SMRs.

The aim is then for a final investment decision to be taken in 2029.

There has since been a change of government, but it has pledged to continue with the process - in its election manifesto Labour said it would "end a decade of dithering that has seen the Conservatives duck decisions on nuclear power. We will ensure the long-term security of the sector, extending the lifetime of existing plants, and we will get Hinkley Point C over the line. New nuclear power stations, such as Sizewell C, and small modular reactors, will play an important role in helping the UK achieve energy security and clean power while securing thousands of good, skilled jobs".

US uranium production continues to grow, with 2024's year-to-date production already more than triple that recorded for the whole of 2023, according to the latest figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Meanwhile, as press reports suggest US concern that its ban on Russian uranium might be being circumvented, the Office of the United States Trade Representative has announced increased tariffs on Chinese imports including uranium.

US uranium production in the second quarter of 2024 was 97,709 pounds U3O8 (37.58 tU), the EIA said in its quarterly update. This is an 18% increase from first quarter production of 82,533 pounds U3O8, bringing production for the first half of the year to 180,242 pounds - far more than 2023's total production of 49,619 pounds, and close to 2022's full-year production of 193,945 pounds U3O8.

Production in the second quarter was from five facilities - Nichols Ranch, Ross, Lost Creek and Smith Ranch-Highland, all in Wyoming, and Rosita in Texas.

The EIA's quarterly report appeared in the same week the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced in the Federal Register modified tariffs for various goods imported into the USA from China. These tariffs were originally imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to address Chinese imports related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation that the USA considers to be unreasonable or discriminatory, and which burden or restrict US commerce. The newly announced rates follow a statutory review process.

The tariff on "Actinium, californium, curium, einsteinium, gadolinium, polonium, radium, uranium & their compounds, alloys, dispersions, ceramic products & mixtures", which currently stands at 7.50%, will increase to 25%. The new tariff will apply to products that are "entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after September 27, 2024".

According to the EIA's Uranium Marketing Annual Report, US utilities purchased 49.239 million pounds U3O8 in 2023, meaning that imports made up most of the 51.625 million pounds purchased in the year. Sources for all but around 957,000 pounds of those imports were disclosed, but the agency withheld the actual amount of uranium purchased from several countries including China to avoid disclosure of individual company data.

Although US imports of Chinese uranium have been small, there now appears to be concern in the USA that Chinese imports may be used to circumvent the ban on the import of Russian-produced unirradiated LEU into the USA which has been in place since the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act came into force in August.

The US Department of Energy "along with other relevant agencies is closely tracking imports from China to ensure the proper implementation of the recently enacted Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act", a department spokesperson told Reuters. US officials are monitoring imports from China and other countries to "ensure they are not importing Russian uranium as part of a scheme to export material produced domestically that they would otherwise have used in their own reactors", the spokesman added.

The Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters that "China has always opposed any illegal unilateral sanctions and 'long arm jurisdiction'" and that cooperation between China and Russia is "an independent choice made by two sovereign countries based on their respective development needs, openly and honestly, without targeting any third party, and without being interfered or obstructed by any third party".

China is willing to continue "normal economic and trade cooperation" with countries around the world, including Russia, it added.

A project aimed at reducing water consumption in nuclear power plants by capturing water from cooling tower plumes has been launched at EDF's Bugey nuclear power plant in eastern France.

US firm Infinite Cooling has developed technology that uses an innovative process that captures fine water droplets in cooling tower plumes using an electrically charged collection mesh. This recovered water - which is said to be more than 100 times purer than the circulating water in the cooling system - can significantly reduce the need for water treatment and decrease waste water discharge volumes, resulting in cost savings and enhanced environmental performance.

Testing of the technology began at the Bugey plant in August and will continue until March next year. Taking place on a test setup at the plant, the tests will assess the technology's performance in diverse environments and measure the amount of water recovered, the quality of the reclaimed water, and the system's operational impact.

Additionally, the project will gather essential insights to guide the large-scale deployment of this transformative solution, considering installation and operational factors.

"Cooling towers, which are the largest consumers of water in nuclear plants, stand to benefit immensely from this technology, which is expected to recover between 1% and 15% of the evaporated water depending on operating conditions," Infinite Cooling said. "The reclaimed water, noted for its high purity, is ideal for reuse, reducing both water treatment costs and waste water discharge."

Maher Damak, CEO and co-founder of Infinite Cooling, said: "Working closely with EDF marks a significant milestone for Infinite Cooling. Our mission is to address one of the most urgent challenges in industrial processes - water scarcity. The tests at Bugey are a pivotal step in demonstrating the power of our technology and its potential to enable sustainable water management in power plants worldwide."

The Bugey plant currently comprises four operating 900 MWe pressurised water reactors - units 2-5 - that started up between 1978 and 1979. Bugey 1 was a gas-cooled reactor that was built from 1965 with its first grid connection in 1972. It was shut down permanently in 1994. The site has been selected by the France's Nuclear Policy Council for the installation of the third pair of EPR2 reactors, after the Penly and Gravelines sites.

Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel said they welcome the announcement by the Polish government of its intention to allocate PLN60 billion (USD15.7 billion) to fund the country’s first nuclear power plant.

Undersecretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Maciej Bando announced the start of the formal process to request European Commission approval of the financing at the 2nd Congress of Nuclear Energy in Warsaw on 11 September. "This week I will sign an official request to the European Commission, starting the notification process," he said. The government is working on legislation to allow it to "inject" funds into state-owned company Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ), which is in charge of overseeing the building of the nuclear plant.

The Polish government selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland in 2022, and an agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May last year by Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ. The Ministry of Climate and Environment in July issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant, and the company has applied for a permit to start preparatory works at the site. The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.

The government's announcement of its intention to allocate funds to the plant came as Bechtel and Westinghouse were meeting with key stakeholders in Warsaw and Gdansk to showcase project progress and reaffirm their commitments to economic development and community engagement, the companies said.

"With the AP1000 design, Poland has selected the most advanced, proven technology already setting operational records in six operational units with another 12 planned to operate before the end of the decade," Westinghouse President and CEO Patrick Fragman said. "This project will drive more than 100 billion zloty of economic impact in Poland, creating tens of thousands of jobs during construction and the many decades of operation to come."

Bechtel President and COO Craig Albert said the "historic" project will strengthen Poland's energy independence "while also creating enormous economic opportunity, including new jobs, the training of a skilled nuclear power workforce, and the establishment of a supply chain with substantial participation by Polish companies".

The US Department of Defense has broken ground at Idaho National Laboratory for the Project Pele prototype mobile microreactor. It will become the USA's first electricity-generating Generation IV reactor as early as 2026.

The reactor, under a Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) initiative, is being manufactured by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC. Assembly of the final reactor is set to begin in February next year. The current schedule includes transport of the fully-assembled reactor to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in 2026.

The prototype reactor facility is designed to be transported within four 20-foot shipping containers, and tested at INL's Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex. The Project Pele team will construct a concrete shield structure at the test site next year in order to be ready for reactor placement in 2026.

Upon arriving at INL, the reactor will be transported by truck to the test site and positioned within the concrete shield structure. Piping and electrical wiring will connect the reactor to INL's specialised electric microgrid. Once the reactor's final safety review is completed, the Pele project team will then proceed with the initial test and evaluation plan. The reactor is expected to deliver 1-5 MWe for a minimum of three years of full power operation.

"We are thrilled to move beyond the era of PowerPoint advanced reactors," said Project Pele Programme Manager Jeff Waksman. "Our tight partnership with INL and the Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho Operations Office is leading the way forward not just for manufacturing advanced reactors, but also for regulating them in an efficient and safe manner."

"The Department of Defense (DoD) has a long record of driving American innovation on strategic and critical technology," said SCO Director Jay Dryer. "Project Pele is a key initiative for improving DoD energy resilience and will also play a crucial role in advancing nuclear power technology for civilian applications."

Project Pele was launched in 2019 with the objective to design, build, and demonstrate a prototype mobile nuclear reactor within five years. The initiative is led by the DoD's Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), which is working in collaboration with the US Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the US Army Corps of Engineers, as well as with industry partners.

BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy LLC were subsequently selected to develop a final design for a prototype mobile high-temperature gas reactor using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel under the Project Pele initiative. BWXT was contracted in June 2022 to build a prototype microreactor. The contractor team also includes critical roles played by Northrop Grumman, Rolls Royce Liberty Works, and Torch Technologies. The fuel for the reactor will be produced at BWXT's facilities using material from the DOE's highly-enriched uranium inventory.

The reactor is to be a single prototype, which will be demonstrated only within the USA under DOE oversight. DoD will decide whether or not to transition the technology and to use it operationally at a future date, but the reactor could also serve as a "pathfinder" for commercial adoption of such technologies, DoD said.

In a separate project, the US Air Force in 2021 announced plans to build its first microreactor would be at Eielson air force base in Fairbanks, Alaska, to be operational in 2027.

The successful integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into nuclear operations will depend on striking “the right balance of trust” between human operators and AI systems, nuclear regulators from the UK, US, and Canada have said.

In a joint paper on AI in the nuclear sector the regulators underlined the need for international cooperation to harmonise regulatory approaches as AI technologies evolve.

The paper marks the first international collaboration between regulators to address the use of AI in the industry, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said.

The ONR, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) co-authored the paper, which outlines how AI could benefit nuclear safety, security and safeguards.

The paper says AI can be a tool to analyse large datasets with the goal to manage risks, improve efficiency, and reduce worker exposure in hazardous environments.

Among its conclusions, the paper says that the rapid pace of AI development means that “it is unlikely that AI-specific consensus standards for the nuclear domain will be available to support regulatory activities within the near future”.

In the meantime, existing nuclear-specific standards should be adapted to address the unique attributes of AI technologies, the paper said.

According to the paper, in the nuclear industry, the quality and integrity of data will be crucial for AI system performance. Data deficiencies, such as bias or inaccuracies, can lead to faulty AI outputs with serious consequences, it warned.

To ensure successful AI integration, meticulous data curation, validation, and governance throughout the AI lifecycle will be essential.

The paper addresses other topics, including integrating AI into existing nuclear systems, managing the AI lifecycle from design to deployment, and common areas of focus for regulators when approaching AI, including considerations for safety cases for AI in nuclear applications.

Shane Turner, technical director at the ONR, said the regulatory collaboration will support the global nuclear community in understanding critical considerations for AI deployment.

“ONR is open to innovation and committed to enabling the safe and secure use of AI and other innovative technologies in the nuclear sector,” Turner said.

Uranium Energy Corporation has agreed to buy British-Australian multinational mining company Rio Tinto’s assets in Wyoming, US, which include the fully-licensed Sweetwater plant and a portfolio of uranium mining projects.

The Texas-based uranium producer and explorer said the $175m (€157m) cash deal would give it key assets that will allow it to boost production, providing opportunities for synergy with its other projects in Wyoming’s Great Divide Basin.

It said the move was a response to unprecedented demand for uranium and nuclear energy. This spike, it said, is being fuelled by ongoing geopolitical events, the escalating need for reliable clean energy, and the rapid adoption of AI technologies.

Uranium Energy estimates the transaction, to be closed in the fourth-quarter of 2024 calendar year, would add about 175 million pounds of historic resources.

“These assets will unlock tremendous value by establishing our third hub-and-spoke production platform and cement [Uranium Energy] as the leading uranium developer in Wyoming and the US,” chief executive Amir Adnani said in the statement.

The Sweetwater plant is a 3,000 tonne per day conventional processing mill with a licensed capacity of 4.1 million pounds of triuranium octoxide (U3O8), a compound of uranium also known as yellowcake that is used to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors.

Uranium Energy will also acquire Red Desert, a development-stage uranium project, encompassing approximately 50,000 hectares of exploration and mining rights, and the Green Mountain project, 35 km north of the Sweetwater plant.

The steel dome of the outer containment building has been completed at Unit 1 of Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power station, project contractor Rosatom said.

The Russian state-owned nuclear corporation is supplying four of its Generation III+ VVER-1200 pressurise water reactor units for Ankara’s first nuclear power station, on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast.

Rosatom said the 147-tonne top section of the dome took six hours to lift in place. Workers installed the lower section of the dome in August 2024.

According to Rosatom, the VVER-1200 reactor system design has a two-part containment – an external one to protect from physical influence and impact and an inner one to secure the hermetic tightness around the core reactor equipment and piping.

Construction of Akkuyu-1 began in April 2018. The unit was originally scheduled to be online in 2023, but latest projections have this is now likely to be 2025. A further unit at the site is expected to start every year afterwards.

Rosatom signed agreements with Turkey to build the Akkuyu units in 2010 and 2013. The cost of the station has been reported at $20bn (€18bn).

US nuclear company Holtec has chosen South Yorkshire as the planned location for a £1.5bn (€1.7bn, $1.9bn) small modular reactor factory that will also serve potential export markets in Europe and the Middle East.

Holtec said the factory will create thousands of highly skilled and high-paying jobs.

The South Yorkshire site was chosen from 13 potential locations around the UK following “a robust and highly competitive process”. Four locations – West Midlands, Cumbria, Tees Valley and South Yorkshire – were shortlisted

Holtec Britain – a subsidiary of Holtec International – has been working at Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk, southeast England, for more than 15 years and has been in the UK for nearly 30 years.

The company said the SMR factory in South Yorkshire would see at least 70% of materials, components and work carried out in the UK.

It added that £50m would be invested in UK skills and training through its SMR Learning Academy.

Holtec said it was working to finalise its factory business plan to support its final investment decision, which will be based on its UK and international order book.

Holtec has been developing its SMR-300 unit at its technology campus in Camden, New Jersey, since 2011.

The plant is a pressurised water reactor producing around 300 MW of carbon-free power. It can also provide thermal energy for use in industrial processes, residential and commercial heating, desalination, or clean hydrogen generation.

The reactor itself will be placed underground, protecting it from extreme weather events and other threats, and will be designed to passively cool during shutdown without the need of external power or human intervention for enhanced safety.

The SMR-300, which recently completed Step 1 of the UK’s generic design assessment process, is one of six SMR designs shortlisted in October last year by state body Great British Nuclear for the UK’s SMR selection competition and one of the five vendors to submit a bid by the 8 July deadline.

The aim is for a final investment decision on two or three of the designs to be taken in 2029.

Holtec proposes to deploy around 5 GW of SMRs in serial production in the UK by 2050.

Earlier this year Rolls-Royce SMR chose Sheffield in South Yorkshire as the home for a facility to manufacture and test prototype modules for its SMRs.

Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) project to refurbish the four Candu units at Darlington is now 86% complete, with unit 1 preparing to restart ahead of schedule. Meanwhile disassembly work on unit 4 continues - and the company has announced its latest corporate green bond issue.

The reactor and supporting systems at Darlington 1 are undergoing tests in preparation for regulatory approval to restart the unit in the final quarter of this year, OPG said in its latest update on the project which covers the period to 30 June. "At the end of this report period, Unit 1 refurbishment execution was 95% complete, on plan, with the restoration of the reactor vault forecasted to be complete in Q3," the company said.

The execution of the refurbishment of unit 4, which began in July 2023, is 42% complete and is on plan, with recent highlights including the completion of calandria tube insert removal, allowing for ongoing work to remove the unit's 480 calandria tubes and pressure tubes which is expected to be completed during the current quarter.

"The refurbishment of the four Darlington units remains on plan for completion by the end of 2026, as committed," the company said. "Unit 1 is on track to complete in Q4 2024, ahead of plan."

The Darlington units are being refurbished in a CAD12.8 billion (USD9.7 billion) project that will enable the station to operate for an additional 30 years. Unit 2 was the first to be refurbished and returned to service in June 2020; unit 3 returned to service in July 2023.

OPG has also initiated a project to refurbish four Candu units at the Pickering nuclear power station, as well as planning to build up to four BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) at its Darlington New Nuclear project.

On 18 September, the company announced the issue of CAD300 million (USD221 million) of bonds under its Sustainable Finance Framework and said it will use the net proceeds to fund a range of low-carbon energy projects. Under a new Sustainable Finance Framework announced in June, OPG may use funds from the bonds for energy-related projects and programmes including new nuclear projects, such as SMRs, and large new nuclear, in addition to maintenance or refurbishment of existing facilities.

OPG has issued a total of CAD4.6 billion in green bonds since 2018, including offerings by its subsidiaries. To date in 2024, OPG and its subsidiaries have issued CAD1.5 billion in green bonds, including CAD1.3 billion under the Sustainable Finance Framework.

Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant unit 7 - India's third indigenously designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor - achieved first criticality on 19 September after receiving clearance from the Indian nuclear regulator.

First criticality marks the completion of the construction phase and the start of the operational phase, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) said. The unit will now undergo various tests before it is connected to the grid. Its power will then be raised, in steps, until it reaches full power - a process known as power ascension testing - with clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board at each step.

Fuel loading at Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant unit 7 - or RAPP-7 - began on 1 August, and the unit now joins Kakrapar 3 and 4 in India's fleet of 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). Kakrapar 3 achieved first criticality in July 2020, was connected to the grid in January 2021 and was declared to be in commercial operation in July 2023. Kakrapar 4 reached first criticality in late December 2023, was connected to the grid in February and declared in commercial operation at the end of March.

"The successful achievement of criticality of RAPP-7, after the smooth operation of the first two 700 MW PHWRs … at Kakrapar in Gujarat, demonstrated the maturity achieved by NPCIL in the design, construction and operation of the indigenous 700 MW PHWRs," NPCIL said.

The Rajasthan plant is already home to six operating PHWRs with a total capacity of 1180 MW. A second 700 MW PHWR - RAPPS-8 - is also under construction and is expected to start generation next year.

As well as Rajasthan units 7 and 8, four Russian-supplied VVER pressurised water reactors are under construction at NPCIL's Kudankulam site in Tamil Nadu. Site works are also under way for the construction of two 700 MW units Gorakhpur in Haryana. In addition to these, a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is being built by BHAVINI at Kalpakkam in Madras.

Ten further 700 MW PHWRs have received administrative approval and financial sanction: Kaiga units 5 and 6 in Karnataka; Gorakhpur units 3 and 4 in Haryana; Chutka units 1 and 2 in Madhya Pradesh; and Mahi Banswara units 1 and 2 and units 3 and 4 in Rajasthan. The Indian government recently approved the transfer of the project to build four 700 MWe PHWRs at Mahi Banswara to NPCIL and National Thermal Power Corporation's Ashvini joint venture.

China looks set to start lifting its ban on the import of Japanese fishery products after reaching an agreement with Japan for the independent monitoring of the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant by China and other countries.

At the Fukushima Daiichi site, contaminated water - in part used to cool melted nuclear fuel - is treated by the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), which removes most of the radioactive contamination, with the exception of tritium. This treated water is currently stored in tanks on site.

Japan announced in April 2021 it planned to discharge ALPS-treated water into the sea over a period of about 30 years. It started to discharge the water on 24 August last year and has so far completed the release of eight batches, a total of 62,400 cubic metres of water.

"As one of the most important stakeholders, China is firmly opposed to this irresponsible move," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "At the same time, China has urged Japan to seriously address concerns in and outside Japan, to earnestly fulfill its obligations, to give full cooperation in the establishment of an independent and effective long-term international monitoring arrangement in which stakeholders can participate substantively, and to accept independent sampling and monitoring by China."

Japan and China have now reached an agreement that allows stakeholders, including China, to conduct independent sampling, monitoring and inter-laboratory comparisons at key stages of the discharge process, which is currently being monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Taking into account the interests of all stakeholder countries, including China, Japan welcomes the expansion of long-term and international monitoring at key stages of the ocean release under the IAEA framework, and will ensure that all stakeholder countries, including China, effectively participate in this monitoring and that independent sampling and inter-laboratory comparisons are conducted by the participating countries," said Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"China states that it has taken temporary emergency precautions against aquatic products of Japanese origin according to relevant Chinese laws and regulations and WTO rules," the Chinese ministry said. "After China participates substantively in the long-term international monitoring within the IAEA framework and the independent sampling and other monitoring activities by participating countries are carried out, China will begin to adjust the relevant measures based on scientific evidence and gradually resume imports of Japanese aquatic products that meet the regulation requirements and standards."

The agreement was welcomed by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who said: "I wish to commend the government of Japan for its continued engagement with the IAEA, and the government of China for the constructive consultations held with the Agency in support of this bilateral process that comes to a positive conclusion today."

The agreement, Grossi said, "has built on our existing sampling and monitoring activities in compliance with the IAEA statutory functions". He said the IAEA will coordinate with Japan and other stakeholders, including China, to ensure that the additional measures are implemented appropriately under the framework of the IAEA, "maintaining the integrity of the process with full transparency to ensure that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards".

Japan and China have agreed to "continue constructive dialogue from a scientific perspective, in a responsible manner towards the ecological environment and people's health, and to appropriately address concerns regarding the ocean release of ALPS-treated water."

IAEA experts stationed at the Fukushima Daiichi plant have taken samples from the batches of diluted water, after they were prepared for discharge. The IAEA's independent on-site analysis has confirmed that the tritium concentration in the diluted water that has so far been discharged is far below the operational limit of 1500 Bq/litre. The IAEA says it will have a presence on site for as long as the treated water is released.

USA-based Holtec International has selected South Yorkshire in England as the preferred site for its proposed UK small modular reactor factory. It has also signed memorandums of understanding with two British research centres to support SMR manufacturing and testing.

Holtec's selection process involved evaluation of 13 locations that responded to a call for interest released by Holtec earlier this year, after which four locations - West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Cumbria and Tees Valley - were shortlisted. Holtec's UK subsidiary, Holtec Britain, has now selected South Yorkshire as the location for its new SMR factory to serve the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

According to the company, the factory is estimated to provide GBP1.5 billion (USD2 billion) in Gross Value Added to the economy and is set to create hundreds of well-paid, high-skilled jobs.

Holtec said that at least 70% of materials, components and services will be sourced from the UK, with significant supply chain opportunities, particularly in and around South Yorkshire.

"Holtec Britain was impressed by the resounding interest in our new SMR factory across the UK and the strong support received by the local authorities during our engagements," said Gareth Thomas, Director of Holtec Britain. "However, after a rigorous process, South Yorkshire was finally selected as our preferred location.

"In addition to the technical, supply chain, training, and logistics criteria for the formal evaluation, we were also impressed by the history and pride of the people we met during our visit to South Yorkshire, which demonstrated the workforce really cares about the quality and reputation of their work. For Holtec, that translates to a workforce that can be trained and will remain committed to delivering the high-quality nuclear products that Holtec, and our customers, demand."

Holtec said it was working to finalise its factory business plan to support its Final Investment Decision, based on its UK and international order book.

Holtec has been developing its SMR unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor producing around 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications, and the company says it has undergone several design evolutions, the most recent of which is the incorporation of forced flow capability overlayed on gravity-driven flow in the plant's primary system.

The SMR-300 is one of six SMR designs selected in October last year by Great British Nuclear on a shortlist for the UK's SMR selection competition and one of the five vendors to submit a bid by the 8 July deadline. The aim is for a final investment decision on two or three of the designs to be taken in 2029.

Holtec proposes to deploy around 5 GWe of SMRs in serial production in the UK by 2050.

In December 2023, Holtec secured GBP30 million from the UK government's Future Nuclear Enabling Fund to start the generic design assessment (GDA) process, and completed the first step last month.

The company said it is on track to begin the licensing and construction of two SMR-300 units at its Palisades nuclear power plant site in Michigan. It is aiming to file a construction permit application for the two Palisades SMRs in 2026 with the first SMR-300 plant targeted for mid-2030, subject to regulatory reviews and oversight.

Cooperation agreements

Holtec has also announced that it has signed memorandums of understanding with two UK research centres within the High Value Manufacturing Catapult - the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) - to support SMR manufacturing and testing.

The MoU with AMRC agrees that both parties will conduct in-depth analysis of manufacturing technology efficiency and UK skills challenges. Holtec and AMRC will also explore collaboration on SMRs, large-scale nuclear and fusion in both the civil and defence sectors.

"With the signing of this MoU, we're delighted to work with Holtec on a number of manufacturing technology challenges that will bring enhanced efficiency, productivity and impact for the UK - which is at the very core of what we do at the AMRC and indeed, the wider High Value Manufacturing Catapult, said AMRC CEO Steve Foxley.

Holtec Britain's Thomas said: "Our MoU is a serious statement of intent to cement our UK footprint to service the UK domestic market with UK R&D, UK jobs and a fully integrated UK supply chain."

The MoU signed between Holtec Britain and MTC is aimed at supporting the manufacturing and testing of the SMR-300. The agreement states that both parties will work together to find the best manufacturing processes and solutions for the SMR-300. MTC will leverage its expertise to explore innovative manufacturing processes for a future testing phase and both parties will work collaboratively from proof of concept to final installation, training and support after project completion.

"Through our partnership with Holtec, not only will we deliver the innovations needed by one company, but also support end-to-end supply chain development to help anchor this growth sector in the UK," said MTC Senior Business Development Manager Andrew Bowfield.

Thomas added: "Our MoU with the world class MTC is a landmark moment for Holtec Britain as we commit to build on our historic UK nuclear history and use this SMR moment to grow jobs with a fully integrated UK supply chain."

US-based utility Constellation Energy has announced the signing of a power purchase agreement with Microsoft, a 20-year deal that will also restart the long-shuttered Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Pennsylvania, the company said in a statement.

The 819-MW Three Mile Island-1 (TMI-1) pressurised water reactor unit was shut down in 2019 over economic concerns. The unit was first connected to the grid in 1974.

Constellation said TMI-1 will be brought back online under the deal with Microsoft as the tech company wants to use energy from the plant to fill the power consumption of its data centres with carbon-free sources.

Constellation said that apart from adding approximately 835 MW of carbon-free energy to the US grid, a restart of TMI-1 would create 3,400 jobs, contribute over $3bn (€2.69bn) in state and federal taxes, and add an expected $16bn to Pennsylvania’s gross domestic product.

The company said that in order to prepare for the restart, it will make significant investments in key infrastructure, including the turbine, generator, and cooling systems.

The plant, expected to be operational by 2028, will also undergo US Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety reviews and state-level permit approvals. A separate license renewal will allow operations to continue through 2054, said Constellation.

According to Constellation, a recent poll has shown strong public support for the TMI-1 restart, with more than two-thirds of Pennsylvanians in favour of the move.

"This critical step forward will ensure Pennsylvania has sufficient baseload power to meet its needs for decades," said US Congressman Scott Perry.

Microsoft’s Bobby Hollis, vice president for energy, called the deal a "major milestone" in the company’s commitment to decarbonising the grid and advancing carbon-free energy technologies.

Constellation said it acquired TMI-1 in 1999, and before its closure, the plant generated enough electricity to power over 800,000 homes, operating at peak capacity about 96% of the time, "well above industry averages".

The company’s plans include renaming the TMI-1 plant to the Crane Clean Energy Centre, in honour of Chris Cane, who was a former long-standing chief executive of Exelon Energy* and passed away earlier this year.

Constellation is the largest US nuclear operator with a fleet of 21 commercial nuclear reactor units at 14 sites.

The Three Mile Island nuclear station, near Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, houses a second reactor units (TMI-2) which only operated for approximately six months before suffering a partial meltdown and reactor core damage during an accident on 28 March 1979 and was never restarted again.

Constellation said TMI-1 is a “a fully independent facility” and its long-term operation was never impacted by the Unit 2 accident. The company said TMI-2 is in the process of being decommissioned by its owner, Energy Solutions.

*In 2022, Constellation split from Exelon Energy, which it had merged in 2012