Holtec International on May 1 reported that it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the state of Utah and Hi Tech Solutions, a nuclear services provider based in Kennewick, Washington, to collaborate in the deployment of SMR-300s in Utah and the broader Mountain West region.
Holtec noted that the announcement follows Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s 2024 “Operation Gigawatt” and “Built Here” strategy announcement to double power production in the state within ten years and enhancing clean energy policies including support for nuclear power.
“Hi Tech will play a leading role in the project development and workforce training to support the rise of new nuclear in the region,” Holtec said.
Holtec, in cooperation with Hi Tech Solutions, is advancing plans to deploy a fleet of SMR-300 reactors -- small modular reactors -- across the Mountain West.
To accomplish this goal, the companies will work to build a permanent training facility in Utah by 2028 to focus on operations, maintenance and future technologies.
The training facility will focus on developing a skilled workforce for both the existing US reactor fleet and next-generation SMR technology through key collaborations with Utah’s Universities, technical colleges, and trade schools.
In addition to training, Holtec International will work to bring its "world-class manufacturing prowess to Utah as the preferred destination for a western manufacturing location for our SMR-300 reactors," it said.
"This goal will help strengthen the US nuclear supply chain by manufacturing and assembling SMR-related components and systems in Utah, generating high quality, long-term employment in the region."
Following on Holtec’s recent Mission 2030 announcement for initial SMR-300 deployment in Michigan, Holtec is finalizing a plan for up to 4 GWs of SMR-300s deployed in the 2030s, primarily focused in Utah and Wyoming and supported by the ongoing testing at the Idaho National Labs.
The Palisades site in Michigan where nation’s first SMR-300s are designated to be commissioned, will serve "as the reference plant for the Mountain West buildout as well as our SMR deployment programs in the United Kingdom, India, Ukraine and over a dozen other countries."
Utah recently passed legislation to support nuclear power development in the state, in addition to new legislation that modernizes Utah’s energy framework by allowing large load energy consumers—those needing 100+ megawatts —to enter into flexible contracts with existing utilities or alternative energy providers.
Holtec said its “Bridge to 2030″ plan envisions installation of the company’s hybrid solar collection technology called HI-THERM HCSP – "a reinvention of the concentrated solar plant capitalizing on Holtec’s vast experience in heat exchanger design, innovative engineering, and modular manufacturing."
Due to simpler regulatory processes, HI-THERM can be deployed in the near-term to meet growing power demands and serve as a bridge to SMR-300 deployments, the company said.
HI-THERM HCSP can be configured with a capacity factory of over 60%, removing the intermittency drawback of solar energy generation from photovoltaic plants. In addition, HI-THERM HCSP uses a steam turbine to produce electricity, providing grid stabilization benefits not attenable from photovoltaic systems.
Furthermore, all the materials for the HI-THERM HCSP technology can be sourced in the United States for U.S. deployments.
"We look forward to furthering plans for HI-THERM deployment as part of our energy abundance strategy in the Mountain West."
