NuScale’s small reactor project in Popular Mechanics
I have mentioned NuScale’s small light water reactor project several times in the past few months.
Growing buzz about small reactors that can be built in series production schemes
Cookie cutter plants may reduce initial costs of new nuclear power
Endurance and resilience – key attributes of an atomic power system
Now, the company is getting some real attention from the mainstream media and the blogosphere because of an article in the August 2008 issue of Popular Mechanics titled Mini Reactors Show Promise for Clean Nuclear Power’s Future:
If new portable reactors get the green light this month, nuclear energy could be rolled out in the furthest reaches of the United States.
Even my friends at NEI are starting to “get” the message that has been a part of the Atomic Insights vision since its introductory issue in April 1995 – small is beautiful when it comes to nuclear power.
Each 45-megawatt electrical unit would generate enough power for about 45,000 homes. By comparison, plants operated today generate 1000 to 1700 megawatts, according to NRC spokesman Scott Burnell. “You can’t take an AP1000, a large base-load reactor, and put it down where there’s no grid to support it. A smaller design could be useful in a remote setting.”
NuScale, Hyperion and others (grin) are showing the way.
