NuScale Power has placed its first long lead material production order with Doosan Enerbility, marking a pivotal step toward manufacturing small modular reactors (SMRs) for the Carbon Free Power Project in Idaho Falls. This milestone underscores NuScale’s shift from design to production as it targets commercial operation by 2029.

Key Takeaways

• NuScale issued a long lead material order for six upper reactor pressure vessels, totaling over 2,000 tons of forgings and critical components.
• Doosan Enerbility will manufacture the upper RPV forgings and steam generator tubes at its Changwon facility, with full-scale work starting in late 2023.
• Licensing efforts for the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) are underway, with a combined license application planned for Q2 2023 and startup targeted in 2029.
• Partnerships with the U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium and BWXT Canada aim to strengthen domestic supply chains for future deployments.

Reactor Material Order And Supply Chain

At the end of 2022, NuScale placed its first long lead material (LLM) order with Doosan Enerbility, covering:

1. Heavy forgings for six upper reactor pressure vessels (RPVs)
2. Steam generator tubes and major weld materials
3. Forging dies finalized in April 2022

Total material weight: over 2,000 tons. This order initiates the manufacturing phase for NuScale Power Modules (NPMs) destined for the six-module CFPP, slated for operation in 2029.

NuScale is also expanding its supply chain by:

• Collaborating with BWXT Canada for potential Canadian deployments by 2028
• Partnering with the U.S. Reactor Forging Consortium (North American Forgemasters, Scot Forge, ATI Forged Products) to secure domestic forgings

Role Of Doosan And Other Partners

Doosan Enerbility, a long-standing investor in NuScale, will leverage its integrated Changwon plant to:

• Complete prototype development of large forged components
• Conduct full-scale manufacturing of NPM forgings in H2 2023

Additional global partnerships include:

• Samsung C&T Corp. and GS Energy exploring VOYGR™ deployments in Asia
• Sargent & Lundy teaming with Fluor Corp. on North American SMR design and marketing

Licensing And Project Timeline

NuScale, Fluor Corp., and UAMPS have initiated licensing preparations for the CFPP:

NuScale’s design holds final safety evaluation report (FSER) certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A Standard Design Approval for the 77 MWe uprated module is expected prior to COLA submission.

Market Outlook For SMRs

Momentum is building for SMR adoption amid global decarbonization goals. Recent activities include:

• U.S. DOE $1.4 billion grant for CFPP development
• Letter of intent by U.S. Development Finance Corporation to support 2.5 GW of NuScale modules in South Africa
• Teaming agreements in Poland, Romania, and Central Europe for VOYGR™ plants up to 924 MWe

NuScale CEO John Hopkins emphasizes that converting design readiness into manufactured modules will position the company as a frontrunner in the emerging SMR market.

Sources

• NuScale Power Places First Long Lead Material Production Order with Doosan Enerbility, Business Wire.
• Doosan Kicks Off NuScale SMR Production for Idaho Nuclear Project, POWER Magazine.
• NuScale, UAMPS Kick Off Idaho SMR Nuclear Plant Licensing, POWER Magazine.