Thread by @simonahac

🧵 many #nuclear hopes are riding on small modular reactors.

@NuScale_Power's #SMR is closest to market. customer for pilot plant is a group of utilities, herded by @SmartEnergy1.

in july only 213 of 720MW (30%) was subscribed.
subscriptions have since dropped to 104MW (14%)…

of the 36 towns in #nuscale's pilot project, the "carbon free power project" #CFPP:
• 8 towns have withdrawn entirely
• 24 reduced their share entitlement
• 3 maintained identical entitlement
• 1 joined (token level).

utah.gov/pmn/files/6554…

with the planned 12 module plant undersubscribed, #nuscale is now looking at downsizing to either 4 or 6 modules.

counteracting this fall of subscriptions, nuscale has uprated modules from 60MWe to 77MWe each.

as such, nuscale now has 33% subscriptions for a 4 module plant…

if @ENERGY allows @smartenergy+#nuscale to keep full $1.355b 10-year grant (despite halving project size) it'll help pilot plant hit challenging US$55/MWh goal.

smart move: smaller project, lower capital expenditure, higher chance of completion, lower tech & commercial risk…

#nuscale's project is precarious:
• budget creeping
• completion schedule slipped to 2030
• will DoE review grant in light of changed scope?
• project participants: struggling to attract more, some wobbly, can't afford to lose any
• 5+ years until final approvals secured.