Summary: To provide energy for growing residential and commercial demands, Texas is incorporating nuclear energy resources, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). And Texas plans to become the U.S. leader in SMR. SMRs, which typically range between 100 to 300 megawatts, are a tenth of the size of current nuclear facilities; SMRs are also safer, more reliable, and less expensive.
Latest Upgate: 29 January, 2025
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Texas moves toward nuclear energy with Small Modular Reactors.
To provide energy for growing residential and commercial demands, Texas is incorporating nuclear energy resources, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
NuScale Power [2] SMRs received federal approval in 2023. With an SMR facility planned at DOW’s Seadrift site [3, 4], located southwest of Houston [1], and a Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station in College Station [2].
"Now, Texas hopes to become a leader in this new energy strategy, with several other nuclear energy projects already in the works." Texas aims to have SMRs operational by the end of the decade [1].
These newer compact reactors could provide a reliable, safer, and more efficient energy source for the state. "SMRs, which typically range between 100 to 300 megawatts, are much smaller than traditional nuclear reactors, which can generate over 1,200 megawatts." [1]
"Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, which require consistent human management or mechanical intervention to prevent disasters, SMRs are designed with “walk-away” safety measures. These measures allow the reactors to self-regulate in the event of a power failure, avoiding the risk of 'leaks' or catastrophic events." [1]
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[1] Texas Moves Toward Nuclear Energy To Ease Grid Stress, Dallas Express, 10 January 2025 Excerpts
To boost the state’s power grid and meet growing energy demands, Texas is making significant steps toward incorporating nuclear energy resources, focusing on using Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
According to some energy experts, these newer compact reactors could provide a reliable, safer, and more efficient energy source for the state.
Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) discussed the state’s vision to integrate SMRs into its energy infrastructure, speaking on the challenges and opportunities these reactors offer during a recent interview with KPRC 2.
SMRs, which typically range between 100 to 300 megawatts, are much smaller than traditional nuclear reactors, which can generate over 1,200 megawatts. As Bettencourt explained, the design of SMRs allows for faster production and installation, making them a potentially game-changing solution for the state’s energy grid.
Another key selling point of SMRs is their alleged safety features.
Unlike traditional nuclear reactors, which require consistent human management or mechanical intervention to prevent disasters, SMRs are designed with “walk-away” safety measures. These measures allow the reactors to self-regulate in the event of a power failure, avoiding the risk of “leaks” or catastrophic events.
“The design of these reactors means that you might have uranium encased in graphite and thorium salt reactors as the coolant pouring out of the ground in the worst case [scenario]. But then it solidifies and that’s the end of it…So, it’s just a completely different mindset than this, you know end of the world, you know Chernobyl,” Bettencourt explained.
Texas aims to have SMRs operational by the end of the decade, according to KPRC 2.
In 2023, the federal government approved the first SMR design from the company NuScale Power. Now, Texas hopes to become a leader in this new energy strategy, with several other nuclear energy projects already in the works. One of the most notable is a partnership between X-Energy and DOW to build an SMR facility at DOW’s Seadrift site, located southwest of Houston. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, pending final government approvals.
[2] NuScale Power
• NuScale Power Completes Third Energy Exploration (E2) Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, 30 November 2021
In partnership with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, NuScale’s E2 Center will offer hands-on learning opportunities in nuclear science and engineering.
• NuScale and Ultra Electronics Energy Unveil New Digital Display System to Enhance Nuclear Safety, 10 January 2019
Building upon the development of the Module Protection System, the safety display and indication system is the next step in how NuScale is re-imagining nuclear instrumentation and control systems in partnership with Ultra’s Texas-based subsidiary team.
• US Certifies First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor, 23 January 2023
[3] Dow and X-energy have announced the selection of Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas for its proposed advanced small modular reactor nuclear project.
Dow and X-energy have announced the selection of Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas for its proposed advanced small modular reactor nuclear project.
[4] First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor of Its Kind Unveiled for Calhoun County Dow Chemical Plant, The Texan, 18 August 2023
The first site of a unique class of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) deployed outside of Russia or China is set for construction on Texas’ Gulf Coast.
Expected to be online by the end of the decade, the SMR will be built on-site at Dow Chemical Corporation’s Seadrift plant southeast of Victoria in Calhoun County. The 320-megawatt (MW) plant, announced by Dow last year, will begin construction in 2025.
[4] Small nuclear reactors may be coming to Texas, boosted by interest from Gov. Abbott, The Texas Tribune, 27 March 2024
A nuclear power plant hasn’t been built in Texas in decades because of cost and public fears of a major accident. Now the governor wants to find out if smaller reactors could meet the state’s growing need for on-demand power.
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