Cameco 300 megawatt small modular reactor design

By Brian Zinchuk

Cameco’s Westinghouse announces 300 megawatt small modular reactor design.

Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania – Westinghouse, which is now 49 per cent owned by Saskatchewan-based Cameco, announced its major entry into the small modular reactor (SMR) race.

On May 4, Westinghouse announced its AP300 small modular reactor, which will have a 300 megawatt (electricity), or MWe output, which puts it on par with the General Electric Hitachi BWRX-300 model that is starting to see substantial adoption around the world (including SaskPower).

Interior of Westinghouse AP 300 small modular reactor. Screen capture/YouTube Westinghouse

Westinghouse and General Electric, between them, have designed and built most of the reactors in the United States, as well as for the United States Navy’s submarine and surface fleets.

The AP300 is based on the AP1000 reactor. “The AP300 is the only SMR truly based on a deployed, operating and advanced nuclear plant, the Westinghouse AP1000® reactor,” Westinghouse said.

Currently, four units utilizing AP1000 technology are operating in China, setting performance records, Westinghouse said. Six more are under construction in China and one AP1000 reactor is operating at Plant Vogtle in Georgia while a second nears completion.

Poland is also looking at building up to six AP1000 units, and Ukraine is looking at nine. Westinghouse said there are “dozens pending.”

“The AP300 SMR, 300MWe (900MWth – megawatts thermal), is based on the licensed and operating AP1000 pressurized light water technology that has demonstrated industry leading reliability,” according to Westinghouse. “The AP 300 SMR utilizes identical technology, including design and licensing methodologies, major equipment and components passive safety systems, proven fuel and supply chain.

The AP300 SMR design utilizes Westinghouse’s proven Gen III+ advanced technology, which has regulatory approval in the U.S., Great Britain and China, as well as compliance with European Utility Requirements (EUR) standards for nuclear power plants. This brings licensing advantages and substantially reduces delivery risk for customers in the utility, oil & gas and industrial space. Design certification is anticipated by 2027, followed by site specific licensing and construction on the first unit toward the end of the decade.

“The AP300 is the only small modular reactor offering available that is based on deployed, operating and advanced reactor technology,” said Patrick Fragman, president and CEO of Westinghouse. “The launch of the AP300 SMR rounds out the Westinghouse portfolio of reactor technology, allowing us to deliver on the full needs of our customers globally, with a clear line of sight on schedule of delivery, and economics.”

The release noted, “The AP300 SMR offers reliable, safe and clean electricity, as well as additional applications for district heating and water desalination. Its fast load-follow capabilities make it ideally suited for integration with renewable resources. It will also pave the way toward the hydrogen economy by enabling cost-effective, clean production of hydrogen integrated with the plant.”

World Nuclear News reported, “In a press conference following the announcement, Westinghouse also said the footprint of the AP300 would be about 25 per cent of the area of a football (soccer) pitch, with a target cost per unit of $US1 billion.”

“Westinghouse is a world leader in delivering nuclear fuel. AP300 SMR utilizes our robust fuel design that incorporates a variety of proven and advanced fuel features, and a four-year refueling cycle.

These reactors are being designed to last longer than an 80 year life cycle.