REGULATORY · MARKET STRUCTURE · USA
NRC clears TerraPower to start construction
Change
On Wednesday, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction approval allowing TerraPower to begin work at its Kemmerer, Wyoming Natrium reactor site.
Why Now
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction approval for TerraPower to begin construction at a site in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The reactor design is called Natrium and was developed jointly with GE Hitachi. The design uses liquid sodium for cooling and heat transfer and is described as incorporating energy storage as part of its design. The excerpt states that construction approval does not necessarily mean the reactor will gain approval to operate.
Impact
- • Construction activities are authorized to begin at the Kemmerer, Wyoming site under the NRC approval.
- • A separate approval process is still required for reactor operation, per the excerpt.
Who Recalculates
- • Nuclear reactor developers and project owners
- • Nuclear regulators and licensing teams
- • Nuclear plant construction contractors
- • Reactor designers and equipment suppliers
Source
Topics
Law & Public Safety Regulatory Actions Energy & Power Nuclear Energy Storage