US nuclear firms submit regulatory filings for small modular reactor projects

Holtec International has advanced its nuclear construction permit application for the Palisades site in Michigan by submitting a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The filing is part of the second phase of the application for two SMR-300 small modular reactors, designated Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 2, which are intended to provide a combined 680 megawatts of clean baseload power.

Separately, Terrestrial Energy has submitted a Topical Report to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposing a new regulatory model for its Thermal and Electric Facility. The plan suggests a bifurcated approach where non-nuclear components, such as turbines and steam systems, could be built under standard commercial codes while the nuclear module undergoes the traditional, more exhaustive licensing process. This strategy aims to reduce capital risks and construction timelines. One potential site for a 390-megawatt-electric plant is the US Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.