The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted TerraPower’s construction permit application for review, marking the first time in more than 40 years that the NRC has docketed this type of application for a commercial non-light water reactor.
The advanced reactor company, based in Bellevue, Washington, is seeking permission to build its Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming as part of a demonstration project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.
If approved, the construction permit will be the first ever issued by the NRC for a commercial non-light water power reactor.
TerraPower's application applied new technology-inclusive guidance that was recently issued by the NRC to ensure consistency, quality, and uniformity of reviews for non-light water reactor applicants.
The new guidance included an endorsement of the industry-led TICAP project to deliver a more risk-informed review of the safety analysis report.
The project is an important next step in implementing the licensing modernization project, which was supported by DOE and also involves collaboration with industry and the NRC, DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy said.
The Natrium reactor is a 345-megawatt electric sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt energy storage system that is being designed to flexibly operate with renewable power generators to help decarbonize the electric grid.
The first Natrium reactor will be built in Lincoln County, Wyoming near the retiring Naughton coal plant.
Non-nuclear construction on the project is expected to start later this summer.
Natrium is one of two clean energy projects supported by the U.S. Department Energy through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to demonstrate first-of-a-kind reactor technologies.
Both projects are managed through the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and are implementing the licensing modernization project methodology.
