Nuclear Small Modular Reactor Technology for Alaska
The Alaska Center for Energy and Power is leading a multidisciplinary team of University of Alaska researchers to assess the potential of Nuclear Small Modular Reactor Technology for Alaska.
Nuclear power generates 14% of the world’s electricity and 19% of the United States’ electricity. Research and development of nuclear reactors has continued since the first plant was built in 1951. Sixty years of development has led to greater safety and new technology. One emerging technology is small modular reactors (SMR).
Small modular reactors generate between 45 and 300 Megawatts depending on design. Manufacturers want to lower the initial cost of nuclear power plants by allowing electricity to be sold after the first unit is constructed. Units can be constructed as needed to match demand which is another benefit of SMRs compared to traditional large reactors.
The development of smaller reactors has placed nuclear power in the realm of possibilities for Alaska. Whether or not this technology should be pursued is unclear. This study will determine if further investigation is warranted in the near future. There are many considerations to take into account including: environmental impact, economic investment, placement, ownership, waste disposal, and eventual decommissioning and removal.
ACEP held a Nuclear Energy Exploratory Workshop in December 2010. We also presented preliminary research results in January 2011 at our monthly Community Energy Lecture Series. The lecture provided an overview of small scale nuclear technology and its potential applications in Alaska.
The DRAFT Executive Summary: Small Scale Modular Nuclear Power: an option for Alaska?, prepared for the Alaska Energy Authority in February 2011, can be downloaded here.