DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gen4 Energy (GEN4) announced that it has completed the conceptual design and final report for a Natural Circulation Experimental Facility (NCEF) to support the thermal hydraulic testing of a Lead Bismuth cooled, pumped flow Generation IV advanced reactor. This work was the result of a cost share grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct research and development on natural circulation designs for advanced nuclear reactors that utilize a lead bismuth coolant. GEN4, a small business based in Denver, Colorado, was selected by DOE in 2013 along with General Electric, Westinghouse and General Atomic as one of the first recipients of a competitively sponsored, industry lead R&D initiative.
Gen4 Energy assembled a strong University, National Laboratory, commercial and international team that included the University of South Carolina; Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Idaho National Laboratory; URS and SRS USA LLC (a subsidiary of SRS Servizi di Ricerche e Sviluppo) to complete the scaling and design for the NCEF.
In October, GEN4 submitted a 5 year plan to the Department of Energy (DOE) to complete the thermal hydraulic testing and model validation for a Lead Bismuth cooled Generation IV reactor. This proposal supports Gen4 Energy’s overall initiative to design, license and test a 25-MWe, LBE Cooled Generation IV prototype reactor by 2030.
GEN4 was founded in 2007, to develop an advanced design nuclear reactor referred to as the Gen4 Module (G4M). The G4M produces 25 MW of electricity to power remote mining or oil and gas operations, large government complexes, and isolated and island communities. The design intent for the G4M is to provide safe and reliable power that is available 24/7, emitting no greenhouse gasses. The G4M is a safe, low-cost and efficient advanced reactor design that provides a viable small-scale alternative to current LWR’s and advances the licensing for next generation nuclear concepts. Its short time-to-market makes it deployable as the current fleet retires.
Investment in advanced nuclear reactors is part of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above strategy to accelerate clean energy leadership, enable a low-carbon economy, cut carbon pollution, and it supports the President's plan to spark innovation across a wide variety of energy technologies, including emerging nuclear technologies.
Bob Prince, President and CEO of Gen4 Energy said, “We believe the compact size and safety of the G4M provides DOE with a foundational building block for advanced reactor licensing and early deployment. Early deployment leverages DOE’s current investment in advanced reactor technology and delivers earlier to market, speeds cost recovery, attracts investors and generates commensurate savings in development costs.”
