US approves construction of first commercial small modular nuclear reactor
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the construction of the first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River site in Tennessee. Developed by GE Vernova Hitachi, the BWRX-300 reactor uses modular manufacturing and passive safety systems to provide a more flexible alternative to traditional large-scale nuclear plants.
Why it matters
This approval marks a significant milestone in advanced nuclear energy, potentially offering a scalable and safer solution to meet growing electricity demands.
The United States has taken a significant step toward a new generation of nuclear power with approval for construction of what is set to become the country’s first commercial small modular reactor (SMR). According to Reuters, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) permission to build a 300-megawatt reactor at its Clinch River site in Roane County, Tennessee. The permit follows a 14-month technical review, but construction approval does not mean the reactor can begin producing electricity. TVA will still require a separate operating licence before fuel can be loaded and the facility brought online.A smaller model for nuclear powerReuters reports that the Clinch River project will use the BWRX-300, a boiling-water reactor developed by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
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