TVA submits nation's first permit to build small modular reactor

The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Tuesday that it is the first utility in the U.S. to submit a construction permit application for a small modular reactor.

The SMR is proposed to be built at TVA's Clinch River site near Oak Ridge.

SMRs are considered by many in the industry as a key component of supplying the magnitude of additional enery seen to be needed to supply America's future in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced manufacturing.

SMRs are advanced reactors with a smaller design than the nuclear technology that powers many U.S. states today. Their smaller footprint means they can possibly be built more quickly, are easier to operate and better fit into the landscape due to their compact size.

TVA said it is pursuing the BWRX-300 technology, with the potential benefits of enhancing safety, making them easier to replicate and more efficient. 

TVA is leading a coalition of industry partners in submitting an application for an $800 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to accelerate BWRX-300 development, and seeks an $8 million DOE grant to support the NRC license review cost. 

TVA has already completed the environmental report for the Clinch River site and submitted it to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Preliminary site preparation could begin as soon as next year.