US nuclear technology company HGP Intelligent Energy has submitted a letter of intent to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the first formal step towards a regulatory review of its software and coolant control technology for pressurised water reactors, the most common type of US nuclear plant.

Dallas-based HGP said one of the fastest ways to add electricity is to uprate existing nuclear plants, allowing them produce more power from the reactors they already have.

In October, the US Department of Energy announced two sets of conditional loan commitments of up to $9.2bn (€8.2bn) for uprates.