NRC issues safety endorsement for small reactor design

摘要

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a final safety evaluation report for NuScale Power's small modular nuclear reactor design. NRC's action on Friday is one of the last major certification steps for NuScale's small modular reactor (SMR) design ahead of it getting a final stamp of the commission's approval that would enable developers to begin licensing SMRs. According to the NRC review, the NuScale design includes enough passive design features to "ensure the nuclear power plant would shut down safely and remain safe under emergency conditions." NuScale is proposing a design of up to a dozen SMRs with each module capable of producing up to 50 megawatts of power. The design features modules submerged in a below-ground pool. Following nearly a decade of development, the company submitted its design in 2017. The final safety report marks the sixth and final step of the NRC review process.