CEA, EDF and Westinghouse Electric Co. have signed a framework agreement to explore potential cooperation on small modular reactor (SMR) development, Kallanish Energy reports.
Worldwide demand for low carbon- electricity generation in the 300- to 400-megawatt range is an important market segment the companies believe their experience in nuclear fuel, reactor design and operation can address.
Under the agreement, the three will examine the possibility of combining the pressurized water reactor (PWR) expertise from the CEA and EDF, and the Westinghouse SMR design, featuring the industry’s only passive safety technology in operation, to meet the growing world demand for decarbonized, competitive and safe electricity.
As part of this international cooperation framework, the parties will also pursue regulatory and design standardization, considered key for the implementation of a successful SMR design.
The detailed project roadmap will be confirmed in early 2020.
“Westinghouse has a long tradition of developing cutting edge nuclear technologies that the market demands,” said Patrick Fragman, president and CEO of Westinghouse Electric.
“This agreement provides the opportunity to continue to work closely with EDF and our French partners as we all leverage our collective nuclear design and operating experience in addressing this important energy market.”
CEA is a French public research organization working in defense and security, energy transition (nuclear and renewable), digital transformation for industry and future health technologies.
The EDF Group is a French integrated electricity company, active in generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, and energy services.
Westinghouse Electric is a nuclear energy icon, a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities worldwide.
Westinghouse supplied the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania, and today the Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania-based company’s technology is the basis for roughly one-half of the world’s operating nuclear plants.
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