The Tennessee Valley Authority will work with Bechtel Global Corp. and Sargent & Lundy LLC on initial planning for a small modular nuclear reactor at the federal power authority's Clinch River Nuclear site.
The TVA is pursuing construction of what could be the first utility-scale small modular reactor (SMR) in the US using the GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Inc. BWRX-300 design.
The team plans to design, potentially procure, construct and commission Clinch River unit 1 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, according to a Jan. 23 news release announcing the TVA's selection of the partners. This "integrated project delivery" approach is "significantly different" from previous US nuclear construction projects, according to the TVA.
"We will actively work together toward a target budget and schedule — creating a significant advantage to drive nuclear innovation, share risks and reduce costs," said Bob Deacy, TVA Clinch River project senior vice president. "This collaboration will provide our region affordable, reliable and increasingly clean power and improve America's energy security."
The team will begin with the validation phase, which may take one to two years, developing a potential cost estimate and schedule. The group is also considering an agreement to negotiate potential incentives and arrangements to "help ensure those estimates are achieved."
The TVA is already partnering with Ontario Power Generation Inc. on BWRX-300 standard design development. Ontario Power Generation has also used the integrated project delivery model for generation projects and is using it for the SMR project at its Darlington SMR Nuclear Power Plant site.
Ontario Power Generation plans to have a BWRX-300 reactor operational by 2029.
Bechtel and the TVA have worked together on other nuclear projects, most recently completing construction of Watts Bar Nuclear unit 2 in 2016.
"We are committed to leveraging our extensive experience and expertise, utilizing new tools and innovations, to construct this project," said Ahmet Tokpinar, general manager of Bechtel's nuclear power business unit.
Sargent & Lundy will lead detailed design for site-specific implementation of the BWRX-300 at the Clinch River site, according to the TVA.
"TVA is building a highly skilled and experienced project team to lead the way for the deployment of the BWRX-300 at Clinch River," said Sean Sexstone, executive vice president of advanced nuclear at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. "Together, we bring decades of expertise in the nuclear industry and major projects."
President and CEO Jeff Lyash has said the TVA may consider constructing one or more SMR units, and the federal power authority has previously discussed plans for four SMR units at the site, each about 300 MW, for a total of 1,200 MW at Clinch River and possibly more at other sites.
The TVA board has not yet voted to approve an SMR at the Clinch River site.
The TVA is leading an application for $800 million in US Energy Department grant funds for SMR development alongside Duke Energy Corp., American Electric Power Co. Inc. and others specifically related to its BWRX-300 project.
