Failed Carbon Free Power Project can pave the way for future successes in new nuclear

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems couldn’t bring its plans for the Carbon Free Power Project to fruition, but its CEO/General Manager Mason Baker hopes the lessons his agency learned in trying to bring a first-of-its-kind small-modular reactor facility online will pay dividends for those who follow. Baker addressed the Leadership In Nuclear Energy Commission on …

Senate bill, joint resolution continue push to make Ky. nuclear-ready

A new bill introduced in the Kentucky Senate this week would create a group to support the development of nuclear energy in the state. Senate Bill 198 would formally establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, which would be administratively attached to the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research. Senate Joint Resolution 140, also …

Slovakia’s SMR timescales outlined as Project Phoenix gets under way

A feasibility study, as part of the US-funded Project Phoenix, is looking into the potential for small modular reactors (SMRs) in Slovakia with an indicative timeline to 2035. Project Phoenix was announced by US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (pictured above) at the COP27 climate conference in 2022 and aims to support energy …

Vogtle 4 reaches first criticality

Georgia Power has announced that the new Vogtle unit 4 AP1000 reactor has reached initial criticality, with the unit’s in-service date now projected to be during the second quarter of 2024. Initial criticality signals that the nuclear fission reaction in the reactor is now self-sustaining, meaning the reactor can begin producing heat that will be used …

IEA Ministerial Meeting recognises role of nuclear

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) 2024 Ministerial Meeting and 50th Anniversary event, held in Paris on 13-14 February, has agreed to recognise nuclear as one technology for achieving energy security and decarbonisation. The IEA said the event – co-chaired by France and Ireland – “produced a strong commitment to safeguard energy security while speeding up …