nuclear-news

Building nuclear reactors underground

FirstEnergy looking into building small nuclear reactor   By John Funk, The Plain Dealer , July 25, 2012 FirstEnergy said today it had signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Co. to study the “potential deployment of the B&W mPower small modular reactor in FirstEnergy’s service territory.” The reactor would generate just 180 megawatts and be built in an underground containment structure, …..

“Our agreement today is an outgrowth of the company’s involvement with
B&W’s consortium to promote the development of small modular
reactors,” said James H. Lash, president of FirstEnergy Generation and
Chief Nuclear Officer. “Completing these studies will help us
determine how B&W small modular reactors may be part of our long term
generation planning.”…. The modular reactor “incorporates robust,
inherently safe protection systems and a fully underground containment
structure,” the company said in a release.
Christofer M. Mowry, president and chief executive officer of GmP
said, “This cooperative effort with FirstEnergy demonstrates growing
interest in our B&W mPower SMR as a clean, efficient and affordable
power generation option….
said U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican. “One or more small
modular reactors in our state could not only provide this energy need,
but would continue to support advanced energy careers in Ohio…….
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/07/firstenergy_looking_into_buyin.html

July 26, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Reference, technology, USA