The deadline is rapidly approaching for developers of small modular reactors (SMRs) – to submit applications for round two federal cost-sharing funds for nuclear units of 300 MW or smaller.
July 1 is the deadline for companies to apply for the second round of Department of Energy (DOE) funding. DOE announced in March that it would solicit a second round of cost-share funding for U.S. companies planning to design and certify small reactors.
DOE announced its first SMR cost-sharing agreement in November 2012. A team led by Babcock & Wilcox (B&W)(NYSE:BWC) affiliate mPower won the 2012 solicitation.
The B&W group is targeting 2022 deployment for two 180-MW mPower small modular reactor units at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Clinch River site in Roane County, Tenn.
The second round solicitation this year seeks proposals for projects with potential to be both win a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license and enter commercial operation around 2025.
Selected projects will span a five-year period with at least 50% provided by private industry.
In addition to B&W, others companies leading SMR development group efforts include Westinghouse Electric, NuScale Power and Holtec International.
