Sargent & Lundy’s Kevin Huberty was among a select group of speakers invited to discuss best practices for nuclear construction as the U.S. Department of Energy looks to embark on a $900 million program to support the accelerated deployment of Generation III+ small modular reactor technologies to meet net-zero emissions goals by 2050.
In a panel discussion with other industry leaders, Huberty talked about the firm’s extensive design work for small modular reactors and how it will benefit the industry in advancing the next generation of nuclear power plants. The panel was part of a two-day conference hosted by the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, bringing together utilities, vendors, constructors, and others to plan for the implementation of the accelerated deployment program.
The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will cover up to $800 million to support up to two teams to deploy a first nuclear plant while also building an orderbook for additional Gen III+ SMRs. The remaining $100 million is intended to encourage additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by bolstering design, licensing, supplier development, and site preparation. Solicitations for the projects are expected to be released by the DOE this fall. The funding follows the recent passage of the federal ADVANCE Act to develop a modernized approach to licensing new reactor technologies and is expected to help expedite the deployment and licensing of new reactors and fuels by reducing Nuclear Regulatory Commission fees, increasing NRC staff for reviews, and incentivizing deployments through DOE prize competitions.
As part of the industry day discussion, Huberty addressed the importance of modularization for the balance of plant for SMRs and noted the work Sargent & Lundy has performed in designing modular steel-composite walls.
In looking at the siting for the new plants, Huberty discussed the process for transferring a standard plant design to a site-specific engineering plan that would account for seismic, meteorological, and other conditions along with procuring the actual components. Discussing the need to remain within budget constraints, Huberty discussed the process for standardizing an SMR vendor’s nuclear island design while also accommodating any inevitable changes in procuring equipment and components.
The DOE program is based on its projected estimates that the U.S. will need approximately 700-900 gigawatts of carbon-free, safe, and reliable power to meet net-zero emissions goals by 2050 and feed the growing demand from artificial intelligence and other data centers along with increased domestic manufacturing. The department is looking to speed the deployment of SMRs due to their versatility, lower overall project costs, and ability to meet unique power needs and complement the use of renewable resources.