Aim is to answer ‘several critical questions’ on nuclear
Denver International Airport in the US state of Colorado has announced that it will conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of building a small modular reactor on its site.
The airport said in a statement that it had issued a request for proposals to study the feasibility of building an SMR as part of overall efforts to meet future clean energy demands.
The feasibility study will attempt to answer several critical questions including whether SMRs are a viable solution for the airport to meet its long-term electrical and energy needs and what are the various types of SMR technology. It will also look at a potential cost estimate and potential funding options for an SMR facility, as well as analysing the possible risks and the government regulations needed to build and operate an SMR.
The study will cost up to $1.25m (€1.07m) and is expected to take between six-12 months to complete, at which time the airport, along with its partners, will evaluate the findings and determine next steps.
Denver mayor Mike Johnston said studying the potential of SMRs is a forward-looking step in understanding “how we can deliver reliable, clean energy at scale”.
The airport said SMRs are gaining traction as a clean energy source for their potential to offer a safe, more scalable and potentially cost-effective approach to generating nuclear power.
Because nuclear reactors operate 24/7, proponents suggest they can complement the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind and could help meet growing energy demand while reducing carbon emissions.
Denver is the sixth-busiest airport in the world and the third busiest in the US. Last year the airport saw 82.3 million passengers. By 2045, it will be serving 120 million passengers. Today, the airport requires about 45 MW of generation, but its energy needs are projected to increase alongside traffic growth.
