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NuScale Hires an Energy Giant to Help get its Nuclear Plant Certified by Wendy Culverwell Portland Business Journal, February 17, 2015

Portland-based NuScale Power has entered an agreement with AREVA to support testing and design of its nuclear power system as it prepares to submit a Design Certification Application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Agency.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, AREVA is a 5,000-person firm that supports the low-carbon energy industry. The agreement gives NuScale access to AREVA's fuel technology as well as its nuclear testing capabilities.

"Their capabilities and experience supporting new plant design and testing, and servicing America's operating nuclear energy fleet will provide significant expertise in fulfilling our design certification requirements," said Dale Atkinson, NuScale's chief operating officer.

NuScale Power is developing a small, modular nuclear power system that is built under factory conditions and deployed to a client's site. The company recently announced it has passed the 50 percent mark on work to prepare the 12,000-page application to the NRC.

It expects to submit the document by late 2016 and to secure approval in time for a 2020 commercial launch.

Multi-state agency Utah Area Municipal Power System selected NuScale and partner Energy Northwest to supply its system for its first carbon-free power project. The plant is expected to be sited in Idaho.

NuScale has spent more than $270 million to date in support of the project with $217 million coming from the U.S. Department of Energy. Fluor Corp. is its majority investor.