July 1, 2010

A Slow Slog Ahead for U.S. Nukes

By Kennedy Maize

Looming Obstacles for Small Nukes

Smaller and modular units are the latest nuclear flavor du jour, but there are also convincing reasons why small may not be beautiful when it comes to new nukes, though the downsides were downplayed during the session. For example, the “pebble bed modular reactor” has been under development for more than a decade, with its program headquartered in power-short South Africa (see this issue’s first Global Monitor story). But the consortium running the effort is running out of money and announced a major financial restructuring early this year. The CEO recently resigned.

Another potential hang-ups for smaller, cheaper, more nimble nukes according to industry officials: Licensing would be a major obstacle, along with financing construction of new, novel designs. “The NRC has its hands full right now with the new generation of large light-water reactors, and the possibility of Gen IV machines,” a nuclear industry official told POWER. “I can’t see the NRC also spending time and money on revolutionary designs that present new safety challenges and don’t yet have a market.”

Southern’s Smith said, “It makes more sense for the industry to focus on the current generation of large units, and get those right, before it steps into a brave new world of smaller is better.”