27 Jul (NucNet): US energy company FirstEnergy Corporation and a subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox have agreed to carry out studies of the possible construction and operation of B&W's mPower small modular reactor, the companies said in a statement.
Under a memorandum of understanding between FirstEnergy and Generation mPower, the companies said they will perform an independent financial review of mPower economics, evaluate several alternative potential sites for construction of B&W mPower plants, complete a preliminary pre-licensing analysis, and assess the need and timing for prospective deployment of the plants by FirstEnergy.
The mPower SMR design has a capacity of 180 megawatts per module and has a fully underground containment structure, the companies said.
They did not say when the studies will be completed or how much they, or the reactor project, are expected to cost.
In May 2012, North Carolina-based B&W was one of three companies – the others were NuScale Power and Westinghouse – that submitted applications for US Department of Energy funding to support the initial licensing and construction of small modular reactors in the US.
