NuScale Power has created a new kind of nuclear plant, a smaller, scalable version of pressurized water reactor technology, designed with natural safety features.

These small modular reactors (SMRs) are designed to produce power on the scale of a single factory or business campus. Each NuScale SMR generates 50 megawatts (gross) of electrical power, and modules can be incrementally added (up to 12 modules) as electricity demand grows to deliver a total plant output of 600 megawatts (gross) (570 net, nominal, after house loads).

“Think of it as bite-sized power,” said Mike McGough, chief commercial officer for NuScale Power. “Small modular reactors will play a critical role in the energy future of the country.”

They have made some major strides in the past few years. In 2013, they received a $217 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to design and license a nuclear power plant.

NuScale Power forecasts the first plant will go into operation in 2020. The company is in the pre-application review phase with the NRC. The DCA is expected to be submitted in second half 2016.