ML25086A246
| ML25086A246 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/13/2025 |
| From: | NRC/OIP |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25086A246 (16) | |
Text
TH20:
United States, Canada, and United Kingdom Small Modular Reactors and Advanced Reactor Trilateral Cooperation March 13, 2025
Dr. Mirela Gavrilas, Executive Director for Operations, U.S.NRC
- Welcome remarks
- In-person and virtual Q&A
Panelists Greg Bowman, Deputy Office Director for New Reactors, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation USNRC Sarah Eaton, Director General, Directorate of Advanced Reactor Technologies Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
Panelists Michelle Catts, Senior Vice President of Nuclear Programs, GE-Hitachi Mark Foy, Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, United Kingdom's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
Panelists (cont.)
Kimberly Hulvey, General Manager of Nuclear Regulatory Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
David Tyndall, Vice President of New Nuclear Engineering, Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
WHY A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION?
United Kingdom United Kingdom Canada Canada U.S.
U.S.
7 Why a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC)?
Rolls-Royce SMR Holtec International GE Hitachi Kairos Power Oklo TerraPower Moltex Clean Energy Westinghouse Terrestrial Energy X-energy ARC Clean Technology
How the MOC Works White paper Topical report Design certification Construction permit Combined license Operating license Joint report License to construct Generic design assessment Pre-application interactions Vendor design review Nuclear site license License to operate
- Training
- Staff exchanges
- Leveraging previously conducted technical assessments Benefits of Collaboration
Collaborative Reviews of the GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 Objective
BWRX-300 design is addressing regulatory requirements in each country and share experiences in a collaborative fashion
- Support the Ontario Power Generation Darlington New Nuclear Project license to construction application and future construction permit applications (CPA) in the U.S.
Projects
- GEH Licensing Topical Report: BWRX-300 Containment and Reactor Building Structural Design
- Fuel Verification and Validation
- Ad hoc topics: break exclusion zone, risk insights
- Focus on ensuring the safety of novel technologies being proposed in Canada
- Currently reviewing license applications for SMRs, advanced reactors and large new nuclear
- International collaboration supports risk informed decision making and ensuring safe deployment Sarah Eaton, Director General, Directorate of Advanced Reactor Technologies Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)
- The UKs nuclear regulator ONR is a recent addition to the collaboration - A real opportunity to prove the concept and benefits of technology specific, broader collaboration
- Joint reports produced mainly by USNRC/CNSC to date
- ONR will now make an increasing contribution as we move deeper into our GDA process
- ONR will pursue the efficient use of resources through a willingness to share technical knowledge and judgements - Streamlining regulation while maintaining safety standards
- Given the global context, regulators need to think and work differently - The collaboration is an exemplar of how regulators should work together in todays modern world Mark Foy, Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector, United Kingdom's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
- Improved Safety Standards: Enhance overall nuclear safety by collaborating with peers globally, regulators can access the latest safety research, best practices, and lessons learned from other jurisdictions.
- Promote Best Practice Sharing: Develop a structured approach to share lessons learned from inspections, audits, and incidents to improve regulatory frameworks.
- Promote Agile and Adaptive Regulatory Frameworks: Encourage regulators to stay flexible, adapting to new technologies while creating frameworks that align with industry needs.
Michelle Catts, Senior Vice President of Nuclear
- Programs, GE-Hitachi
- TVAs New Nuclear Program was created to explore potential new nuclear technology options and additional nuclear sites in the TVA service territory for potential new nuclear deployments
- TVA currently has an Early Site Permit for their Clinch River Nuclear site and is currently working on the Construction Permit Application for the potential deployment of a GEH BWRX-300
- TVA, in collaboration with Ontario Power Generation, Orlen Synthos Green Energy, and GE-Hitachi, agreed to invest in the development of the GE-Hitachi BWR-300 standard design Kimberly Hulvey, General Manager of Nuclear Regulatory Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
David Tyndall, Vice President of New Nuclear Engineering, Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
- Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is Ontario's largest electric power generating utility, with ~18.2GW of installed capacity, comprised of nuclear, hydroelectric, thermal, and solar facilities, with subsidiaries running combined cycles in Ontario and a number of small hydro facilities across the United States
- OPG is leading nuclear growth through first deployment of SMRs and looking ahead to the deployment of future GW-class nuclear, as well as micro, and industrial applications
- OPG is the first deployer of new nuclear in Canada, and the lead-units for the BWRX-300
- OPG is participating in the framework to ensure operator and licensee perspective is applied, starting with the BWRX-300, to drive effective and efficient deployment through common approaches to design, licensing, and deployment
Panelist Q&A:
Led by Dr. Mirela Gavrilas