NuScale Power has signed an MoU with the Bulgarian government to develop a new nuclear power unit with its SMR technology at an existing nuclear power plant at Kozloduy, Bulgaria
American nuclear power equipment manufacturer, NuScale Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bulgarian government to deploy NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. This comes as a surprise move since recently, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had stated that the Kozloduy nuclear power plant would use Russian equipment. Russian technology for nuclear power plants has already been purchased for a new nuclear power plant slated to be constructed in Belene.
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Credit: Jean Paul Bemer / IAEA, CC BY-SA 2.0
At Kozloduy, the Bulgarian government is examining options to develop a new nuclear power unit at the site of the old power plant. This new unit will generate heat and electricity using a process free of carbon emissions. As part of the agreement, NuScale Power will support the power plant authorities to develop a project timeline, conduct feasibility studies, a project estimated costs and deploy engineering, planning and licensing work to support the implementation of NuScale Power’s technology for the new unit.
NuScale Power’s technology for nuclear power plants is particularly relevant for the clean nuclear energy sector. The company has stated that its new light water reactor can supply reliable and abundant carbon-free energy. The reactor has been designed with modular principles in mind, which means that it can be customized for servicing a wide variety of nuclear power plants across the world.
NuScale Power’s new reactors will begin operations for the first time at a nuclear power plant in Idaho Falls, America by the end of this decade. In addition to the Bulgarian government, the company has also signed MoUs with power companies across East Europe, such as Czechia, Romania and Ukraine.
Lyuben Marinov, CEO, Kozloduy nuclear power plant, said: “The NuScale SMR is one of the best options to achieve European and Bulgaria policy goals in a liberalized power market, improve the security of energy supply and add sufficient value in national gross domestic product.”
