US nuclear power company NuScale Power has received small modular reactor (SMR) design approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its uprated 250 megawatts thermal (MWt) (77 megawatts electrical (MWe)) NuScale power modules.
The original design certification application for NuScale’s 160MWt (50MWe) SMR was accepted by the NRC in March 2017. The NRC affirmed its approval for the 50MWe design in 2020.
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The uprated design maintains the same safety features and passive safety case as the previously approved 50Mwe SMR model, with additional design changes to meet increased capacity demands.
This milestone marks an advancement for the company and its partner, ENTRA1 Energy, which holds global exclusive rights to commercialise NuScale’s SMRs.
NuScale president and CEO John Hopkins stated: “We are thrilled that the NRC has approved our second SDA application, this time for our 77MWe design. This marks a historic moment not only for NuScale, but the entire industry, as NuScale and ENTRA1 move closer to meeting the demands of clean energy users.
“The NRC is domestically and internationally recognised and respected for its rigorous safety standards, and this approval is a crucial step toward meeting our goal of providing clean, reliable and, most importantly, safe energy to off-takers and consumers.”
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By GlobalDataThe NRC’s approval enhances ENTRA1 Energy’s capability to produce and deliver carbon-free energy through its ENTRA1 plants equipped with NuScale’s SMR technology.
The uprated design allows for a higher power output per module, expanding the potential customer base for ENTRA1 plants.
NuScale is the only company with an NRC-approved SMR design and aims to deploy its technology by 2030.
Regulatory affairs and services vice-president Carrie Fosaaen stated: “NuScale continues to advance with ENTRA1 Energy in the commercialisation of our SMR technology inside ENTRA1 Energy plants while remaining steadfast in our mission to improve the quality of life for people around the world through safe, clean energy.”
In a related development, President Trump signed four executive orders in late May 2025 to revitalise the nuclear energy sector.
