NuScale Gains Partner for Small Modular Nuclear Reactor

NuScale Power LLC and Enercon Services Inc. have joined forces, announcing a strategic partnership to support deployment of NuScale’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

Enercon got its start in 1983, supporting nuclear plant startups and operations. In 2005, the company created its New Plant Services division to focus on deployment of new nuclear plants. The division provides services relating to strategic planning, plant siting, site characterization, site permitting, plant design, and license application development. With Enercon taking an equity position in NuScale, it will utilize its licensing experience to support NuScale’s design certification application development.

“We are proud to join with NuScale to help the nuclear industry move forward with this important new technology. NuScale has demonstrated a leadership role since the inception of the NuScale Power Module in 2000. And with their recent selection as a winner of [Department of Energy] SMR funding, that position has only been enhanced,” said John Richardson, president of Enercon.

The NuScale design is hailed as a smaller, safer, scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology with natural safety features. Up to 12 individual modules—each capable of producing 45 MW—are combined to make up a plant utilizing NuScale’s technology. The reactors are designed with natural circulation cooling and can theoretically be shut down safely with no operator action, no electrical power, and no external water. Fluor Corp. is the majority investor in NuScale.

“I am pleased to add Enercon to our growing team of partners who are committed to the successful deployment of the safest small modular reactor nuclear energy technology ever developed. Enercon’s experience and capabilities in the areas of new plant licensing will be a powerful asset moving forward,” said John Hopkins, NuScale Power president and CEO.

—Aaron Larson, associate editor (@AaronL_Power, @POWERmagazine)