Many of the new nuclear reactors under development are designed to run on uranium at enrichments as high as 15%-19.75%, known as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), rather than traditional Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology, which typically uses uranium enriched to 3%-5%. The only commercial source of HALEU, however, is Russia. The invasion of Ukraine, and Russia’s …
An EDF-led consortium has been awarded UK government funding to further develop plans to use heat and electricity from Heysham 2 to create hydrogen for use in the production of asphalt and cement. Earlier this year, a feasibility study demonstrated the significant benefit the project would bring in proving how nuclear could power hydrogen electrolysis. …
Ukraine’s Energoatom and the US firm Westinghouse have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) relating to the development and deployment of AP300 small modular reactors (SMRs) in Ukraine. The MoU was signed by Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman, seated left in the the picture above, and Energoatom President Petro Kotin. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, standing …
The Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) today announced the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) accepted its Limited Work Authorization (LWA) application for formal review. After technical review of the CFPP application, which was submitted on July 31, 2023, the NRC has docketed the application that seeks approval to commence early construction activities for the CFPP …
Centrus Energy Corp (NYSE American: LEU) announced today that it expects to begin first-of-a-kind production of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) in October 2023, approximately two months ahead of schedule, at the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio. “This will be the first new U.S.-owned uranium enrichment plant to begin production since 1954,” said Centrus President and CEO Daniel …
Westinghouse has announced the creation of a centre of excellence for Low Enriched Uranium Plus (LEU+) fuel manufacturing at its Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF) in Hopkins, South Carolina. “The demand for LEU+ fuel in the range of 5–10% enrichment is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to increased power generation which …
A research project has highlighted the potential for quantum computing to deliver significant benefits for the design and operation of radiation facilities in the nuclear, medical and space industries, as Professor Paul Smith, Jacobs ANSWERS Technical Director, explains. Modelling radiation transport is fundamental to nuclear physics and plays a part in everything from reactor design …
Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik has signed a memorandum of understanding with small modular reactor (SMR) project development company Kärnfull Next, which is investigating the possibility of constructing and operating SMRs on the Studsvik industrial site near Nyköping on Sweden’s east coast. Kärnfull Next said the feasibility study began in May, and preliminary results …
The Canadian government has approved CAD74 million (USD55 million) of federal funding for small modular reactor (SMR) development in Saskatchewan. The funding – including over CAD24 million from the proceeds of Canada’s pollution pricing system – will support work to advance the project led by utility SaskPower. In 2022, SaskPower selected GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300 SMR for …
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Kairos Power’s application for a construction permit for the Hermes demonstration molten salt reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Based on their review, NRC staff have recommended that the permit should be issued. Kairos submitted its permit application in two parts, …
