Recent Developments

Domestic:

2/15/21 – Greentech Media: SMR developers seek standardized regulations

Developers of small modular reactors are urging nuclear regulators in the US, Canada and other countries to harmonize their design safety rules to make selling SMRs at home and abroad cost-competitive. "Because they are small, these things can't afford the sort of regulatory framework and costs that go along with conventional plants," says John Gorman of the Canadian Nuclear Association.

2/12/21 – S&P Global: Mont. Senate to vote on coal plant conversion study

The Montana Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee has approved a resolution calling for a feasibility study for transitioning the Colstrip coal-fired power plant into a nuclear power plant using small modular reactors. The bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.

2/8/21 – E&E News: Republican wants to breach dams, reshape Pacific Northwest

Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson has proposed a sweeping $33.5 billion plan to save the Pacific Northwest's iconic salmon that includes breaching four of the most controversial dams in the country. But the proposal goes much further than that, offering a framework that would remake the region's energy system and replace what the dams offer in power production by, among others sources, small modular reactors.

2/11/21 – Wall Street Journal: SMRs a clean, reliable complement for renewable energy

Small modular reactors are touted as having a multitude of advantages -- safer, smaller, less oversight needed, more electricity generated, no emissions -- but they still must overcome negative public perceptions of the industry. Nonetheless, many governments, countries and companies are racing to develop SMRs that could ultimately complement renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and help replace coal- and gas-fired plants, said NuScale Power Chief Commercial Officer Tom Mundy.

2/18/21 – Global America Business Institute: GABI Virtual Workshop - Principles, Strategies, and Models for Successful Global SMR Deployment

UPCOMING EVENT…Event to be hosted via Zoom. Virtual meeting details and password to be shared after registration. RSVP via the link. Date: Thursday, March 4th, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET (Participants outside the Eastern United States, please account for the time zone difference)

European/Global News:

[Sweden] 2/15/21 – WNN: Joint Venture Formed to Spur SMR Deployment in Sweden

Uniper Sweden, LeadCold and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) are collaborating to explore the possibility of constructing a demonstration LeadCold SEALER lead-cooled small modular reactor (SMR) at Sweden's Oskarshamn plant site by 2030. The partners have also applied for funding towards building a non-nuclear prototype at Oskarshamn for testing and verifying materials and technology.

[Bulgaria] 2/17/21 – NuScale: NuScale and Kozloduy NPP – New Build Sign MOU to Explore SMR Development in Bulgaria

NuScale Power announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bulgaria’s Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant - New Build Plc (KNPP-NB) to consider deploying NuScale’s innovative small modular reactor (SMR) technology at the Kozloduy power plant location.

[Canada] 2/10/21 – CBC News: New Brunswick spending $20M to develop SMRs

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced during a speech that the provincial government will spend $20 million to support ARC Clean Energy's small modular reactor technology development. "We are convinced that, through this investment, not only will we support the development of local expertise, we will also contribute to creating a critical mass to attract the best talent, which will enable other companies to grow," Higgs said.

[EU] 2/15/21 – Euractiv: Nuclear faces ‘a lot of uncertainty’ as EU green evaluation looms

On The European Commission’s in-house research body, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), is putting the finishing touches to a report about the safe handling of radioactive waste that could be fateful for the future of Europe’s nuclear industry. The report, expected by the end of February or beginning of March, could end up recognising nuclear power as a “transition fuel” under the EU’s green finance rulebook, or on the contrary irreversibly stigmatise it as a polluting form of energy that does “significant harm” to the environment.

Related: Foratom Expresses Concern over ‘Lack of Clarity’ on Nuclear’s Role

[Canada] 2/11/21 – Wilmington Biz: GE Hitachi: New company will run SMR builds in Canada

GEH SMR Technologies Canada has been formed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to manage the building and development of small modular reactors in Canada. Lisa McBride will oversee SMRs in the country, the company says.

[Estonia] 2/10/21 – WNN: No time to waste in Estonian SMR deployment, conference hears

Estonia needs to put in place the necessary legislation and competencies if a small modular reactor (SMR) is to be in operation by 2035, speakers at a conference organised by Fermi Energia agreed yesterday. The Baltic country aims to stop generating electricity from oil shale by 2035, but has yet to officially launch a nuclear programme.

Related: Fermi Energia plans to build an Estonian SMR by 2035

[EU] 2/5/21 – WNN: Study calls for European nuclear renaissance

The European Union should embark on a "nuclear renaissance" programme if it is to achieve its climate objectives, a new study on the bloc's climate policy has concluded. Commissioned by ECR Group and Renew Europe, the report says it is practically impossible to generate sufficient energy with wind and solar energy as there is not enough available land to meet electricity demand.

[Czech Republic] 2/18/21 – Politico Pro: Czech lawmakers weigh the geopolitics of building new nuclear

The Czech parliament is set to vote on a nuclear tender that could open the way for a Russian bid to build a nuclear power plant, something that’s sparked warnings from the U.S. and Czech security services. Potential bidders from China, France, Russia, South Korea and the U.S. have been awaiting a tender since state-controlled energy group CEZ scrapped a previous plan to build new reactors in 2014. A working group including intelligence officers and foreign and interior ministry officials in November called for the government to oust bidders from countries that pose a strategic risk to the Czech Republic, meaning Russia and China