ČEZ & NuScale to develop small nuclear reactors for clean energy

Czech energy and utilities group ČEZ is set to work with US-based nuclear power company NuScale on the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for carbon-free energy.

SMRs offer lower initial capital investment, better scalability and greater flexibility in terms of locations due to being smaller in size than traditional larger nuclear reactors.

Earlier this year, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that small scale nuclear power sources are the best solution for the country when it comes to constructing new nuclear power plants.

The agreement comes as ČEZ continues its evaluation of potential nuclear energy solutions, including the construction of SMRs and refurbishments to existing nuclear facilities.

Daniel Beneš, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ČEZ said; “We have a long-term orientation on new solutions and technologies. Our technical-engineering company UJV Řež is already researching small modular reactors, which represent an important future alternative that cannot be ignored. This partnership with NuScale is a next logical step in our efforts.”

Nuclear power currently generates roughly one third of all electricity in the Czech Republic. ČEZ, which is one of the largest utility companies in Europe, currently operates two nuclear power plants in the country, Temelín and Dukovany.

“I am confident that the simplified design and resulting lower operating costs of NuScale’s SMR make us the ideal technology to help ČEZ meet a growing demand for cost-effective, carbon free energy,” said NuScale Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins. “This agreement highlights the rapidly growing international interest in our technology, and will give us the opportunity to examine how best to deploy the NuScale SMR in Europe in the coming years.”

SMRs are significantly smaller than conventional reactors. Their main advantage is that they can be manufactured at a plant and brought to a site to be assembled, which allows for less on-site construction and heightened nuclear materials security.

At the signing of the Memorandum, Czech Vice Premier and Minister of Industry Karel Havlíček said: “Our aim is to set trends, not only to follow them. The Czech government gives top priority to innovations and small modular reactors can be the future of nuclear energy. I am glad ČEZ has intensive research in this field.”

“Czech nuclear energy research has traditionally been one of the best in the world and the cooperation with NuScale on development of small modular reactors further confirms this position,” he added.

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