Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced grant funding for technical assistance to advance the decarbonization of Ukraine’s energy sector through the deployment of small modular reactor (SMR) technology. USTDA’s grant to the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) will provide a comprehensive regulatory analysis to facilitate the introduction of SMR technologies to Ukraine. STCU selected Oregon-based NuScale Power, LLC, to carry out the assistance.
“Around the world, USTDA is committed to accelerating the transition to net zero energy systems through the deployment of cutting-edge, innovative technologies such as small modular reactors,” said Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally (ret.), USTDA’s Acting Director. “With this activity, we have a unique opportunity to enable a cleaner and more secure energy future for the people of Ukraine, using U.S. solutions.”
USTDA’s technical assistance complements Ukraine’s national energy strategy, which calls for greater renewable and nuclear power generation capacity. The assistance will include a licensing gap analysis to support the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine’s (SNRIU) development of a regulatory regime that would enable the introduction of SMR technology into the country for the first time.
Executive Director of the STCU, Curtis Bjelajac, said: “STCU is honored to partner with USTDA, NuScale, and the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine to lay the foundation for implementing SMR technology in Ukraine. Small modular reactors can offer unique opportunities to complement Ukraine’s already substantial nuclear power generating capacity, and may have the potential to act as a valuable component of Ukraine’s nuclear strategy going forward.”
“As the first and only SMR in the world to be approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, we are excited to be partnering with USTDA and STCU to examine the licensing process and create opportunity to deploy SMR technology in Ukraine,” said John Hopkins, President and CEO of NuScale Power. “With the support of USTDA and our other partners, we are committed to changing the power that changes the world and meeting the clean energy needs of our shared planet.”
SNRIU Chairman Hryhorii Plachkov stated: “SNRIU appreciates the U.S. government’s support in strengthening Ukraine’s regulatory capabilities. USTDA’s partnership with STCU and NuScale to undertake this analysis will support the potential implementation of innovative small modular reactor technologies in Ukraine. SNRIU, as a beneficiary, is looking forward to the successful completion of this analysis and the resulting improvements to our national legislation.”
This project advances USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which connects U.S. industry to major clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects in emerging markets. It also advances the U.S. Department of Energy-led Net Zero World Initiative, which USTDA joined as a launch partner in November 2021.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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Illustration courtesy of NuScale Power, LLC