In 2020, NuScale Power achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first and only small modular reactor (SMR) design to receive certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Building on this achievement, NuScale received Standard Design Approval (SDA) from the NRC in 2025 for its uprated 77 MWe design, further solidifying its leadership in advanced nuclear technology. These milestones represent the culmination of years of innovation, rigorous testing, and a steadfast commitment to delivering clean, reliable, and scalable energy solutions to the world. As we look to the future, NuScale’s SMR technology showcases what is possible in the pursuit of a sustainable energy future.
The global energy landscape is at a crossroads. With the demand for electricity rising and the urgent need to decarbonize our energy systems, the world requires solutions that are not only clean but also adaptable to diverse applications and environments. This is where NuScale’s scalable SMR design comes into play.
The Power of Modularity
At the heart of NuScale’s innovation is its modularity. Unlike traditional nuclear power plants, which are large, fixed installations, NuScale’s SMR technology is designed to be flexible and scalable. Each NuScale Power Module (NPM) is a self-contained reactor capable of generating 77 MWe, and multiple modules can be combined to meet the specific energy needs of a community, industry, or region.
This modular approach offers exceptional flexibility:
- 4 NPMs: Generates 308 MWe of clean, reliable power.
- 6 NPMs: Produces 462 MWe, ideal for medium-scale energy demands.
- 12 NPMs: Delivers a robust 924 MWe, suitable for large-scale applications.
This scalability allows customers to start small and expand as demand grows, making it an ideal solution for regions with evolving energy needs. It also provides redundancy, ensuring that power generation continues even if one module is offline for maintenance.
Safety by Design
Safety has always been a cornerstone of NuScale’s mission. Our SMR design incorporates advanced passive safety features that set a new standard for the industry. These features include:
- No operator actions, AC/DC power, or additional water required to keep the reactors cooled indefinitely.
- A site boundary Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), significantly smaller than the traditional 10-mile radius, making it easier to site plants near industrial facilities or population centers.
- Resilience to natural disasters, aircraft impacts, electromagnetic pulses (EMP), and geomagnetic storms.
These innovations are not just theoretical. They are backed by rigorous testing and validation, ensuring that NuScale’s SMR technology is ready to meet the challenges of the modern energy landscape.
Reliability for a Changing World
In a world increasingly reliant on intermittent renewable energy sources, reliability is more critical than ever. NuScale’s SMR design offers several features that enhance reliability:
- Redundant Array of Independent Reactors: Ensures continuous power generation even during maintenance or unexpected events.
- Off-Grid Operation: Ideal for industrial applications, data centers, and other mission-critical facilities.
- Black-Start Capability: Provides “first responder power” to help restore the grid after outages.
- Staggered Refueling: Only one module is shut down at a time, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.
These capabilities make NuScale’s SMR technology uniquely suited to support grid stability, industrial applications, and even remote or off-grid communities.
A Vision for the Future
When I founded NuScale in 2007, my vision was to create a technology that could address some of the world’s most pressing energy challenges. Today, that vision is becoming a reality. NuScale’s SMR technology is not just a solution for clean energy; it is a platform for innovation, enabling communities and industries to pioneer new approaches to decarbonization and energy resilience.
As the world faces the dual challenges of climate change and rising energy demand, the need for scalable, reliable, and clean energy solutions has never been more urgent. NuScale’s SMR technology is ready to meet this need, providing a pathway to a sustainable and secure energy future.
The journey to net zero will not be easy, but with advanced nuclear technologies like NuScale’s SMR, we have the tools to get there. Together, we can build a future where clean, reliable energy is accessible to improve the quality of life for people around the world.
