Trawsfynydd para acolher o reactor SMR

Trawsfynydd, País de Gales está em discussões com NuScale para um sítio nuclear na orla da aldeia.

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Trawsfynydd, País de Gales está em discussões com NuScale para um sítio nuclear no limite da aldeia.

Uma rivalidade comercial

O Trawsfynydd está no centro das conversações com o governo galês para trazer pequenos reactores modulares (SMR) para o Reino Unido. O site está localizado no Norte do País de Gales. NuScale is ready to implement its SMR technology locally.

O sítio de Trawsfynydd poderia assim acomodar a tecnologia SMR, tal como o sítio Gwynedd. De facto, Gwynedd tem uma data alvo de 2027 para a construção. Em Trawsfynydd, existem três potenciais locais e têm um acordo com a Autoridade de Desmantelamento Nuclear (NDA).

Rolls-Royce SMR and Balfour Beatty assinaram memorandos de entendimento para planear a construção de reactores SMR. Estes seriam reactores de água leve pressurizada Holtec SMR-160. A empresa está a planear iniciar o processo de validação regulamentar do Reino Unido.

Uma tecnologia a ser implantada

NuScale argumenta que a sua tecnologia SMR VOYGR já está em desenvolvimento. Tudo o que resta é implementá-lo nos locais. Tom Mundy, Presidente da VOYGR, afirmou:

“Pensamos que estamos bem posicionados para poder avançar. Não é como se tivéssemos de desenvolver a tecnologia novamente e depois avançar com os projectos”.

De acordo com NuScale, o governo tem interesse em apoiar a tecnologia SMR como parte da equação energética global do Reino Unido. O desenho do VOYGR 12 pode acomodar até 12 módulos de fornecimento de energia NuScale. A produção bruta total ascende então a 924MWe.

O módulo de potência NuScale é também um reactor de água pressurizada para gerar vapor. A troca de calor integrada numa única unidade gera 77MWe. É o primeiro SMR a receber a aprovação do projecto da Comissão Reguladora Nuclear dos EUA.

 

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