Holtec International

American Holtec International for 2023 is known for producing equipment for handling spent nuclear fuel and providing decommissioning services for nuclear power plants.

2023: Plan for the construction of 20 nuclear power units with reactors in Ukraine SMR-160

In April 2023, news appeared about the signing of an agreement between the Ukrainian company Energoat and the American Holtec International for the construction in Ukraine of 20 small-sized modular nuclear reactors of the SMR-160 type with a capacity of 160 MW.

Holtec International began to engage in small-sized nuclear reactors only in 2010: at that time it has only a project and not a single prototype built.

At the same time, Holtec International has neither production facilities for the construction of reactors, nor licenses from the US government for such activities, nor a complete list of necessary competencies, especially in the field of managing large projects. The latter company is trying to compensate for international cooperation.

SMR-160 is a fully factory-made water-water type nuclear reactor. All equipment and safety systems are located in a solid enclosure located underground. During the operation of the station, it is completely sealed.

The design of the SMR-160 is devoid of pumps and is significantly simplified, so it does not require maintenance. Similarly, it is planned to significantly reduce the cost of building a nuclear reactor and subsequent operation, as well as reduce the time of its commissioning.

Ukraine is an ideal testing ground for technology development and commercial operation. Failure or even an accident carries a minimum of risks, but it will allow developing invaluable experience for the further development of the project, the Rybar channel noted.

Why does Ukraine need this? Most of the operating reactors at the Ukrainian nuclear power plants approach the full development of their resource, and maintaining their performance requires increasing costs with the growing risks of accidents. Creating new ones is too expensive.

The construction of powerful power units requires a developed and constantly working industry capable of consuming electricity generated by large power units.

Nuclear power plants are base stations: they must operate with constant power and cannot sharply increase and drop generation.

The refusal to develop thermal power indirectly indicates that the Ukrainian authorities have no hope for the emergence of cheap gas and coal in the future.

Against this background, the possible construction of unattended modular small-sized nuclear power plants, along with the reconstruction of hydroelectric power plants and plans for the construction of plants from renewable energy sources, is a logical solution.

2021: Agreement with Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction to build the first modular SMR-160 reactor in the United States in 2029

In November 2021, the company signed a cooperation agreement with Korean Hyundai Engineering & Construction for wide cooperation in the construction of the first modular reactor in SMR-160 in 2029: it is planned to be built on the territory of the closed Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in the United States.

2018: Cooperation Agreement with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

In February 2018, Holtec International entered into a cooperation agreement with the Japanese GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which is engaged in the construction of reactors.