Terrestrial Energy, Westinghouse and UK National Nuclear Laboratory Sign Agreement For IMSR Nuclear Fuel Supply
Source: · TERRESTRIAL ENERGY · | August 17, 2021
Source: A computer-generated image of a Terrestrial Energy IMSR plant. Courtesy Terrestrial Energy.
Preston, United Kingdom and Oakville, Ontario – August 17, 2021 – Westinghouse, the UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), and Terrestrial Energy have signed an agreement for nuclear fuel development and supply. The agreement is to advance the industrial scale up and commercial supply of enriched uranium fuel for use in Terrestrial Energy’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR®), a Generation IV advanced nuclear power plant, which is under development in Oakville. The Terrestrial Energy IMSR® incorporates the latest in nuclear technology to provide cleaner, safer, more reliable and cost effective energy.
Westinghouse’s UK facility, Springfields, is a global leader in the supply of uranium fuel for today’s commercial nuclear power reactors. The NNL is the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission research and provides critical technical support services to Westinghouse from its research facility co-located on the Springfields site.
IMSR® fuel utilizes Standard Assay Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), which over many decades has become the commercial fuel standard. Standard Assay LEU is enriched to up to 5 percent uranium-235, at plants in Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States. Terrestrial Energy’s use of Standard Assay LEU fuel in IMSR® operation, the only Generation IV reactor design to do so today, supports early deployment.
Paul Howarth, Chief Executive of NNL, said: “The development of the IMSR® power plant provides a fundamental platform that showcases the vast potential of the Springfields site. The agreement also harnesses NNL’s expertise in collaboration with Westinghouse global fuels experience and capabilities, which is vital to expand the supply capability for advanced reactor fuels.”
“As the expansion plan continues, we are delighted that the advanced reactor sector recognises our capabilities and Terrestrial Energy has selected Westinghouse and NNL to develop the commercial fuel supply. We look forward to implementing the processes and facilities, creating jobs which will be pivotal in supporting the first operating IMSR® nuclear power plant,” added Howarth.
Sophie Lemaire, Regional Vice President, Westinghouse, said: “We are committed to Shaping Tomorrow’s Energy together for a cleaner, better future, and as a leading global supplier of commercial nuclear fuel, we have the knowledge, technology and capability to develop new fuel manufacturing routes for advanced nuclear technologies. These technologies will support skilled manufacturing jobs at our Springfields site in Lancashire, a strategic national asset for the United Kingdom, employing around 800 high value jobs in the region.”