Comment US SMR project cancelled (Score 4, Interesting) 214
The NuScale SMR project in the US was canceled last December. The US Dept of Energy provided the site for construction at the Idaho National Lab. DOE also put up most of a billion dollars to cover the costs of final detailed design and licensing. The NRC issued a license. A group of utilities (UAMPS) was going to buy the power.
Nuscale was required to issue updates from time to time, including current estimates for what the wholesale price of power would be. That price had gone up pretty much each iteration. The next update was due Jan 1, 2024, but the participants announced a month before that the project was canceled. No reason was given, but all of the rumors were that the projected wholesale price had gone to something over $60/MWh.
Regionally, independent wind farms are signing contracts to provide power at $19/MWh, or less.
Nuscale was required to issue updates from time to time, including current estimates for what the wholesale price of power would be. That price had gone up pretty much each iteration. The next update was due Jan 1, 2024, but the participants announced a month before that the project was canceled. No reason was given, but all of the rumors were that the projected wholesale price had gone to something over $60/MWh.
Regionally, independent wind farms are signing contracts to provide power at $19/MWh, or less.