Holtec International and SNC-Lavalin will work together to develop and deploy Holtec’s SMR-160 Small Modular Reactor power plants.

The partnership aims to accelerate the reactor system’s ongoing development and international licensing efforts by linking SNC-Lavalin’s nuclear team with Holtec’s SMR team. In 2011 Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin bought the commercial reactor division of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited along with the development and marketing rights to CANDU reactor technology.

(Click to enlarge.) Artist's concept of SMR-160. Under the terms of the agreement, SNC-Lavalin will initially provide Florida-based Holtec with a range of nuclear engineering services, including supporting licensing of the SMR-160 reactor. The initial licensing application is expected by December 2018.

SMR-160 is a passive small modular reactor that may be used in remote locations, in areas with limited water supplies or land, and in industrial applications where traditional larger reactors are not practical.

The SMR-160 is intended to have all safety-significant systems powered by natural circulation.

Other features of SMR-160 include:

• A passive containment cooling system that integrates decay heat removal from the spent fuel pool and reactor core under off-normal conditions, including station blackout.
• Black start capability
• Large inventory of water around and over the reactor core makes uncovering core unlikely.
• Ready access to critical components for code compliant in-service inspection and testing.
• Simplified refueling operations via a unitary fuel cartridge with integrated underground spent fuel storage.
• No penetrations in lower region of Reactor Vessel
• Reactor coolant is demineralized water (no boron) with a large negative reactivity coefficient.

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world. It provides EPC and EPCM services to clients in a variety of industry sectors, including oil/gas, power, mining/metallurgy and infrastructure.

Holtec International launched the SMR-160 program in late 2010. Development has had the support of utility PSEG of Newark, New Jersey, and industrial firm Mitsubishi Electric of Tokyo.