NuScale makes public debut but requires ‘a lot of financing’ to launch small nuclear reactor in 2029

The meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011 essentially put the nail in the coffin of the construction of big nuclear power plants with similar technologies in the U.S., according to nuclear proponents and watchdogs. That disaster, along with earlier accidents, ongoing delays and cost overruns at the Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia, …

Xcel Energy aims to produce carbon-free hydrogen by 2024 with new pilot

Xcel Energy has begun work at the Prairie Island Nuclear Plant on a project that could expand business and aid the company’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal. Xcel says the pilot, for which the U.S. Department of Energy allocated $12 million, will create the potential for Prairie Island to use excess carbon-free nuclear energy to make …

South Bohemia Nuclear Park founded

A development of small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Czech Republic’s Temelín nuclear power plant would be known as the South Bohemia Nuclear Park, according to a memorandum to set up the park signed by the utility ČEZ, the South Bohemian government, and the UJV Rez research organisation. While the Czech government supports ČEZ’s plans …

Energoatom borrows USD51 million to buy extra Westinghouse fuel

Ukraine’s Energoatom has taken a UAH1.5 billion (USD51 million) loan from Ukrgasbank to buy more nuclear fuel from Westinghouse. It follows the energy giant’s decision to stop using Russian fuel earlier this year. In a statement Energoatom said “the borrowed funds will increase the purchase of American fuel and ensure the efficient operation of Ukrainian …

Inner dome completed at Zhangzhou unit 1

The concreting has been completed of the inner containment dome of unit 1 at the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China’s Fujian province, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) affiliate China Nuclear Industry 24 Construction Company (CNI24) has announced. Zhangzhou unit 1, the first of two Hualong One units at the site, is scheduled to enter …

Utility executive expands push for second nuclear power plant in Wisconsin

A Wisconsin utility executive is stepping up his sales job for the idea of adding a new nuclear power plant in the state. The proposal has supporters and critics. The two reactors at the Point Beach nuclear plant north of Manitowoc continue to generate electricity, including for We Energies customers. There’s even a controversial proposal to keep …

Japan governor wins re-election, NHK says, in race seen key to nuclear restart

The governor of Japan’s Niigata prefecture easily defeated his anti-nuclear opponent in an election on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK said, a result that could embolden members of the ruling party who are pushing for the country’s largely idled nuclear energy plants to be revived. Hideyo Hanazumi, who was backed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling …

U.S. nuclear power regulator staff say NuScale design is safe

NuScale Power Corp’s (SMR.N) design for a new kind of nuclear reactor is adequate to protect the project from damage by earthquakes, staff at the U.S. nuclear power regulator said in documents seen by Reuters on Friday. Last month, Reuters reported that Dan Dorman, the NRC’s executive director for operations, ordered agency staff to document their evaluation …

China’s first project to provide industrial steam via nuclear power begins construction

Construction of energy station of Tianwan nuclear power plant, in East China’s Jiangsu Province, designed to provide an industrial steam supply, launched on Friday, the first-of-its-kind project in China. It marks an important step in the diversification of China’s nuclear power use, in addition to electricity generation and residential heating. The steam generated by the …

Japan’s Kishida pledges to restart idled nuclear power plants

Japanese prime minister’s remarks come as Ukraine war highlights country’s reliance on Russian oil and gas. Japan will move to restart idled nuclear power plants to make maximum use of nuclear power in order to stabilise energy prices and supply, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said. Tokyo will take “concrete steps” to restart plants that …