TVA Enters Agreement With GE Hitachi Related To Potential Deployment Of Small Modular Reactor

August 5, 2022

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
August 5, 2022

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has entered a two-party agreement with GE Hitachi to support TVA’s planning and preliminary licensing for a potential deployment of a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinch River Nuclear site and provide additional information needed as TVA continues to analyze the viability of SMRs, subject to future TVA board approval.

This follows an April 2022 collaboration agreement with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to support the development of small modular reactors as an effective long-term source of 24/7 carbon-free energy in both Canada and the U.S.

Such collaborations could help reduce the financial risk that comes from development of innovative technology, as well as future deployment costs, TVA said on Aug. 2 as part of its release of third quarter Fiscal Year 2022 financial results.

The TVA-OPG agreement allows TVA and OPG to coordinate their explorations into the design, licensing, construction and operation of small modular reactors.

OPG is moving forward with plans to deploy an SMR at its Darlington nuclear facility in Clarington, Ontario. The Darlington site is the only location in Canada licensed for new nuclear with a completed and accepted Environmental Assessment.