RR Standard Power, which supplies infrastructure as a service to advanced data processing companies, plans to develop two facilities powered by small modular reactors (SMRs) producing 2 GWe in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The projects will use technology from US NuScale Power Corporation and ENTRA1 Energy to supply energy to nearby data centres. NuScale will provide its SMR technology – the only SMR design approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In 2022, NuScale formed an exclusive global partnership with ENTRA1 to commercialise NuScale’s SMR technology whereby ENTRA1 has the rights to develop, manage, own and operate energy production plants powered by NuScale SMRs.
"We see a lot of legacy baseload grid capacity going offline with a lack of new sustainable baseload generation options on the market especially as power demand for artificial intelligence-computing and data centres is growing,” said Maxim Serezhin, Standard Power Founder & CEO. “We look forward to working with ENTRA1 and NuScale to deploy NuScale’s proven SMR technology to deliver carbon-free, baseload energy to address this large gap in the generation market."
He added: “By bringing together ENTRA1’s superior strengths in project development and investment with NuScale’s proven SMR technology, consumers can reduce their emissions footprint and help meet decarbonisation goals while delivering the reliable 24/7 service to energy consumers."
Clayton Scott, NuScale Chief Commercial Officer said ENTRA1 Energy has a strong global pipeline of energy production projects totalling multiple gigawatts of power generation using NuScale’s technology. "Together, we can more effectively meet the growing demands for renewable, carbon-free energy solutions. With power demand growing in the semiconductor, artificial intelligence, data and other tech sectors, ENTRA1 and NuScale are uniquely positioned to supply baseload and reliable power."
NuScale’s VOYGR SMR plants are powered by the NuScale Power Module, a small PWR that can generate 77 MWe or 250 MWt (gross), and can be scaled to meet customer needs through an array of flexible configurations up to 924 MWe (12 modules). NuScale says the design is being considered for deployment by more than 10 countries. It describes it as "based on proven pressurised water-cooled reactor technology, and was developed to supply energy for electrical generation, district heating, desalination, commercial-scale hydrogen production and other process heat applications".
NuScale Power Modules are fully factory-fabricated with no in-field construction and operate with conventional nuclear fuel, which is widely available and has an established regulatory framework. This keeps costs low, consistent and predictable – and makes power plants using NuScale technology less expensive to build, operate and maintain. NuScale President &CEO John Hopkins noted: "By deploying our innovative NuScale SMR Technology to more consumers around the world, we’re taking an important step toward addressing the world’s enormous decarbonisation needs."
Standard Power’s plans for the two facilities will require NuScale to provide 24 units of 77 MWe modules collectively producing 1,848 MWe from both the Ohio and Pennsylvania sites. Standard Power estimates that each proposed SMR-powered data centre project will employ a significant number of skilled workers during the construction period. Standard Power will leverage its local community partnerships to advance education programmes as well as job creation programmes focusing on local labour.
Image courtesy of NuScale Power
