Two energy companies, Westinghouse Electric and CORE POWER, have just announced a cooperation agreement to develop a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP), marking a new step forward for the US in a field currently led by Russia and China.
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| Westinghouse and CORE POWER are collaborating to design and develop a floating nuclear power plant using the industry-leading eVinci™ microreactor. (Source: Business Wire) |
Russia has been operating the world's first floating nuclear power plant, Akademik Lomonosov, since December 2019. Equipped with two KLT-40S reactors, the plant has a capacity of 70 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat, providing energy to the Arctic region. Russia also plans to build five more floating plants to serve Gazprom's oil and gas fields in the Arctic region.
Meanwhile, China is developing the 60 MW ACPR50S to power oil rigs and islands along its eastern coast. It is expected that the country will build up to 20 floating nuclear power plants in the future.
The new project by Westinghouse and CORE POWER uses the eVinci micro reactor, which can operate continuously for eight years without refueling. CORE POWER CEO Mikal Boe emphasized that combining advanced nuclear technology with shipyard manufacturing processes will help to deploy quickly and efficiently.
Floating nuclear power plants offer many unique advantages, such as mobility and the ability to provide power to remote areas. However, the technology also poses environmental and safety challenges due to exposure to sea conditions and the risk of accidents.
The US operated the MH-1A floating nuclear power plant from 1967 to 1976. With the newly announced agreement, the country is returning to the potential technology race, promising to open a new era for the global clean energy industry.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/my-tro-lai-duong-dua-nha-may-dien-hat-nhan-noi-tinh-chen-chan-vao-vi-the-dan-dau-cua-nga-trung-quoc-295627.html
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