The National Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by Congress, includes language directing the Secretary of Energy to develop a pilot program and report on the possibility of deploying micro-reactors at national security facilities.
The report would identify the best locations for micro-reactors to secure power generation for Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. It would estimate the costs of such a pilot program and a timeline for its potential milestones. The DOE would assess different nuclear technologies to find the best fit and survey potential commercial stakeholders with which to enter into a contract for such reactors.
“As an emphasis continues to be placed on clean energy, countries around the globe are pursuing nuclear power for the carbon-free reliable electricity it produces,” Maria Korsnick, Nuclear Energy Institute president and CEO, said. “This bill helps to ensure American companies are at the table with our foreign competitors so that we can continue to provide our technology and, in doing so, set international nonproliferation, security, and safety standards for years to come.”
Micro-reactors are those reactors with a capacity no greater than 50 megawatts. The DOE will have one year to submit a report on their potential following the bill’s enactment, which is expected in the coming days.
Source: Daily Energy Insider
