SMR Technology and What it Means for Missouri

You may have recently heard of the Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) project that is being pursued by a collaboration of Missouri (and even some non-Missouri) companies and government entities.  I thought I’d take a moment to talk about the project and the implications its development in Missouri would mean.

The Technology

A typical US nuclear reactor, like the one in Callaway County, Missouri, produces over 1,000 MWe.  Obviously, there is a large dedication of acreage necessary to sustain such a fixture, 60+ acres.  The Westinghouse SMR technology will produce 225 MWe, smaller in output but it only needs 15 acres of land.  The technology itself has not been deployed commercially anywhere, not yet! 

The Project

The Department of Energy recently announced its intention to award matching funds up to $452M over five years for companies that would manufacture SMR technology, deploy it locally, and then market it worldwide.  Westinghouse, in cooperation with a variety of key stakeholders including every Missouri electrical provider, formed the NexStart SMR Alliance to pursue the grant funds. 

Westinghouse plans to locate several reactors at the already functioning Callaway reactor site.  This site was designed for several ‘large’ reactors, but only has one, making it a prime location for SMR.  Once the design is manufactured and deployed, future production of additional reactors will begin so that SMRs can be marketed around the globe, a great opportunity for Missouri companies and educational institutions who would supply the workforce and supplies necessary to manufacture the SMRs.

Why Missouri?

Missouri has several advantages that will help in this grant opportunity.

1) The Callaway Site.  This reactor was one of the last built in the country, but is 4th nationwide for lifetime production of energy.  It has an excellent track-record of safety, and it has plenty of land available to add new SMRs.  It is also located well above the flood plain and near water sources that are necessary for production.

2) Logistics.  The Callaway site is ideally located in the center of the state, making logistics simple for state commerce.  Additionally, Missouri is centrally located in the country near major interstates and waterways necessary to transport raw materials and finished products to the job site or global market. 

3) Workforce.  Missouri’s university system already produces talented young minds that have been trained in nuclear technology.  Our community colleges can easily adapt to train technical workers, and the University of Missouri and Missouri S & T both have operating reactors and research departments.  In short, our workforce is ready and capable to handle this project today! 

4) Laws/Regulations.  Missouri’s low energy costs, business-friendly regulatory environment, and previous legislative efforts in nuclear production make us highly attractive for this project.  We are ahead of the game when it comes to nuclear licensing at Callaway and companies can be confident they can do business here without over-burdensome tax rates.  Manufacturers of the component parts can also do so cost-effectively because of our cheaper electricity costs.

Is it Safe?

Yes.  The Callaway site has an impeccable safety record.  In addition to the measures already in place, the Westinghouse design places the reactors underground which prevents outside forces from tampering with the system.  Also, Westinghouse has developed and will implement passive safety systems which shut down the reactor even if it is not receiving any external power.  Had these sort of controls been in place at Fukushima, the plant would have shut down immediately and given workers plenty of time to determine a safe way to proceed with no explosions and no release of radiation. 

What’s Next

We’ll know in the coming weeks if the Westinghouse collaborative proposal is awarded the DOE grant funds.  There are 3 other known competitive proposals that DOE is considering.  If awarded the first SMR should be producing energy by 2022.  If that is the case, Missouri stands to benefit greatly.  The project itself will net huge gains in employment, incomes, and additional state revenues.  In the long run electricity rates will remain lower making manufacturing cheaper, which will have a compounding effect on jobs and future economic development.  I have lent my support to this grant application, and I look forward to SMRs around the world being ‘Made in Missouri.’