The push for bring compact nuclear reactors to market stumbled last week as exponents of the clean-energy technology—Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems and listed NuScale Power Corp.– decided to terminate their decade-old Carbon Free Power Project.
CFPP, a project led by UAMPS, is envisaged as the U.S.’s first-generation small modular reactor nuclear plant that will initially deploy six, 77-megaWatt compact power plants to be provided by NuScale. The program was expected to replace coal power plants as well as allow the development of more renewable energy sources, including wind and solar.
But earlier this month, after 10 years of development and millions of dollars spent on the technology, UAMPS and NuScale issued statement about their decision to end the venture, calling the move “the most prudent” course of action since “it appears unlikely that the project will have enough subscription to continue toward deployment.”
UAMPS and NuScale noted that their clean-energy project, with the help of the U.S. Department of Energy, had advanced and proven the reliability of small modular reactor technology.
“Our work with CFPP over the past ten years has advanced NuScale technology to the stage of commercial deployment; reaching that milestone is a tremendous success which we will continue to build on with future customers,” said NuScale president and chief executive officer John Hopkins in a statement.
NuScale said it will continue with its other domestic and international customers to bring the small modular reactor technology to market and grow the U.S. nuclear manufacturing base to create more jobs.
“This decision is very disappointing given the years of pioneering hard work put into the CFPP by UAMPS, CFPP LLC, NuScale, U.S. Department of Energy, and the UAMPS member communities that took the leadership role to launch the CFPP,” said
UAMPS chief executive officer and general manager Mason Baker said that while the decision was “very disappointing” given the years and efforts dedicated on the project, “yet, this decision is the best course for the UAMPS members participating in the CFPP and doing what is best for those member communities will always be the guiding light in such decisions.”
UAMPS and NuScale are working with the U.S. Department of Energy to wind down CFPP.
