The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption related to the “energy island” of TerraPower’s proposed Kemmerer project in Wyoming. The exemption covers a limited portion of structures, systems, and components, enabling the project to proceed with certain activities including driving piles, installing foundations, or assembling, fabricating, or testing the limited set of structures, systems and components, without a limited work authorisation. NRC said it continues reviewing the construction permit application for the overall project.
TerraPower’s Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The Natrium demonstration project is being constructed near a retiring coal facility in Wyoming. Non-nuclear construction on the project began in June 2024.
The energy island’s stated purpose is storing excess heat to increase electricity output during high demand periods. The NRC review determined that allowing certain activities related to the limited set of structures, systems and components will not present an undue risk to public health and safety, is consistent with common defence and security, and that special circumstances are present.
Granting the exemption has no impact on the agency’s eventual decision on the construction permit for the proposed reactor. US SFR Owner LLC, the wholly-owned TerraPower subsidiary seeking the permit, assumes the risk that NRC could later deny the application.
TerraPower President & CEO Chris Levesque said TerraPower was pleased with the decision “that allows us to construct the energy island while they continue completing the construction permit application review process of the Natrium plant”.
