Jacobs to support design and development of micro modular reactor

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has awarded USNC a grant of up to $29m toward the development cost of the MMR Energy System.

The grant, match funded by USNC, will enable the second phase of work toward building a demonstrator of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor by the early 2030s.

“This high-temperature reactor has the potential to assist the world’s energy transition and take nuclear power into a new era,” said Jacobs Energy, Security & Technology senior vice president, Karen Wiemelt.

Jacobs will support the front-end engineering design program as a leading subcontractor to USNC. This will include reactor analysis, refuelling system, primary and secondary systems, safety systems, associated testing facilities, human factors, safety case and security, licensing and regulation, overall system integration and preparation for delivery of the demonstrator model. 

Seattle-based USNC plans to deploy its MMR energy system in North America and Europe and has demonstration projects underway at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and at the University of Illinois.