US power utility, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has signed an agreement with ENTRA1 Energy (ENTRA1) to provide up to 6 GWe of new nuclear power generation on sites in TVA’s seven-state region. through the deployment of six ENTRA1 Energy Plants. ENTRA1 is an independent global energy production platform dedicated to increasing energy security by providing baseload, safe, and reliable energy.
It seeking to develop and own a portfolio of power infrastructure assets and sell the output to TVA under future power purchase agreements. The collaboration could provide enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 4.5m homes or 60 new data centres.
ENTRA1 Energy aims to commercialise small modular reactors (SMRs) as a bridge between technologies and end usage of power. The TVA and ENTRA1 Energy partnership is a first step to advance deployment of advanced nuclear technology in the US with ENTRA1’s immediate strategy being to utilise NuScale’s SMR equipment inside its ENTRA1 Energy Plants.
ENTRA1 Energy is NuScale’s strategic partner, and the two companies have an existing 50/50 joint venture company – ENTRA1 NuScale LLC. ENTRA1 holds the global exclusive rights to the commercialisation, distribution, and deployment of NuScale’s products and services.
“Our focus is on deploying best-in-class American technologies in the nuclear SMR and natural gas-fired power sectors – and that is what we are doing in the immediate term via our partnership with NuScale SMRs,” said Skip Alvarado, ENTRA1 Energy Chief Projects Officer. “We’re investing in the next generation of power solutions to meet the country’s growing energy demands.”
He added: “Energy security is national security, and dependable electricity is the lifeblood of America’s future. It powers our AI data centres, fuels advanced manufacturing, and drives the critical industries that keep our nation strong. Without abundant, affordable baseload power, innovation stalls and supply chains break.”
Don Moul, TVA President and CEO said TVA “is leading the nation in pursuing new nuclear technologies, and no utility in the US is working harder or faster than TVA”. He added: “This agreement with ENTRA1 Energy highlights the vital role public-private partnerships play in advancing next-generation nuclear technologies that are essential to providing energy security – reliable, abundant American energy – and creating jobs and investment across the nation.”
John Hopkins, NuScale’s President & CEO said: “We are honoured that ENTRA1 has selected NuScale’s US NRC-approved SMR technology for this historic deployment in delivering power to the TVA region. ENTRA1’s team of energy and finance veterans brings exceptional value to our partnership – combining energy sales knowledge, investment and asset management capabilities, deep project finance expertise, and experience in delivering large-scale power infrastructure. Their experience is exactly what is required as we enter this critical next phase of commercializing and deploying NuScale Power Modules into ENTRA1 Energy Plants.”
