US-based NuScale Power announced that it completed its second submittal to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for pre-licensing Vendor Design Review (VDR) of its small modular reactor design.  

“As NuScale prepares to deliver the US’s first SMR power plant, we are pleased to simultaneously advance our work to bring the benefits of our safe, reliable, and operationally-flexible nuclear power plant to meet Canada’s diverse energy needs," said NuScale chairman and CEO John Hopkins.

NuScale said that despite COVID-19, NuScale’s Regulatory Affairs team and the CNSC continue to move this process forward on schedule.

“NuScale recognises the invaluable role of the CNSC to advance this work during such challenging times," a statement said.

NuScale’s VDR is to be completed in four submittals, with the first made on 10 December 2019. NuScale’s submission was a combined Phase 1 and 2 level VDR, as the company’s 60MW SMR design is mature enough to enter directly the second phase.

NuScale vice president of regulatory affairs Tom Bergman said: “Completion of the Vendor Design Review provides assurance to both the regulator and potential customers that the NuScale design will be acceptable to build and operate in Canada.”

NuScale has an agreement with Bruce Power to develop a business case to support efforts to bring its SMR technology to Canada. Ontario Power Generation also participates on the NuScale Advisory Board and provides advice on potential deployment of NuScale technology in Canada. “NuScale’s work with both companies is a strong endorsement of the interest in Canada for the company’s innovative SMR technology,” NuScale said.

NuScale’s SMR  is a fully factory-fabricated, 60MW power module based on pressurised water reactor technology. The scalable design means one power plant can house up to 12 individual power modules.