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MoP urges states to identify sites for nuclear power projects

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Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has encouraged states to identify viable sites for nuclear power plants, especially in areas far from coal sources.  The government has already shortlisted 18 locations across the country for new nuclear capacity, aiming to increase nuclear power from 8 GW to 20 GW by 2032.  The Minister advised states to repurpose sites of retired coal-based thermal plants for this purpose. At the recent Power Ministers’ conference on 12 November 2024,…

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L&T and BHEL bid for Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant reactor systems

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Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have submitted bids to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for the erection of nuclear reactor systems and turbine systems for Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. NPCIL initiated the bidding process in April 2024. The project scope involves the installation of key systems, including generators, condensers, seawater systems, polar and trestle cranes, as well…

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Westinghouse extends AP1000 reactors contract in Bulgaria

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Westinghouse Electric has extended its front-end engineering and design contract with Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild for the construction of two AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP).   The partnership, which began in June 2023, focuses on evaluating Kozloduy’s infrastructure for deploying the AP1000 reactors. Following this phase, the project will move to engineering services, including design, licensing, training, project management, and site planning in preparation for construction. In early 2024, Westinghouse delivered the first…

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Google signs deal with Kairos for 500MW nuclear projects by 2035

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Google has signed a master plant development agreement with Kairos Power to generate clean energy for its AI data centres using small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The agreement outlines a plan to deploy 500MW of advanced nuclear power projects across the US by 2035. Kairos Power will oversee the development, construction, and operation of a series of advanced reactor plants, providing Google with energy, ancillary services, and environmental attributes through power purchase agreements. The first…

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Blue Energy raises $45m for modular nuclear power plant

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Blue Energy, a US-based company specializing in nuclear power, has completed a $45 million Series A fundraising round co-led by Engine Ventures and At One Ventures. The funding also saw participation from capital firms Angular Ventures, Tamarack Global, Propeller Ventures, Starlight Ventures, and Nucleation Capital. The funds will be used to advance Blue Energy’s core engineering work, site development, and secure additional partnerships. The company introduced a modular, reactor-agnostic power plant architecture that can be…

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Italy’s nuclear revival is imperative, World Nuclear Association says

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Italy, the only G8 country without an operational nuclear power plant, is advancing toward reversing its nearly four-decade-long ban on nuclear power. After the 1987 shutdown of its four reactors following the Chernobyl disaster, public opposition to nuclear energy has been strong. Despite attempts to revive nuclear energy in the past, including a failed 2008 initiative, the ban remained in place. In May 2023, Italy’s lower house of parliament passed motions asking the government to…

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Kazakhstan votes to initiate nuclear energy development

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Kazakhstan has voted in favour of developing nuclear energy, with 71.12% of voters supporting the construction of nuclear power plants, according to preliminary results from the Central Election Commission. Of the 7.8 million voters, the majority agreed to the proposal in the referendum held on 6 October. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the need for an international consortium with advanced technology to work in the country, highlighting nuclear energy as a sustainable solution for Kazakhstan’s growing…

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Big Tech spurs new demand for SMRs providing nuclear power

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In September 2024, Oracle announced plans to build a gigawatt-scale data centre powered by small modular reactors (SMRs). Equinix, a leading data centre operator, made a $25m pre-payment to nuclear power company Oklo for SMR power. SMRs, compact versions of traditional nuclear plants, offer high-energy corporations a dedicated power source, providing greater energy security and consistent output. More than 200 SMRs have already been ordered, with demand coming from companies like Standard Power and Dow….

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Russia seeks to counter West’s climate agenda with gas, nuclear power

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Russia plans to present its own climate-related proposals, differing from Western approaches, ahead of the COP29 U.N. climate summit in Azerbaijan this November, according to Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin. Amid strained relations with the West, Russia is crafting a new energy strategy through to 2050, focusing on measures that do not hinder its development potential. Sorokin highlighted energy efficiency as a key method for reducing emissions, noting that Russia’s energy-saving potential is 20-30%. He…

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Global nuclear power on rise as IAEA outlook surges for fourth consecutive year

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised its projections for the global expansion of nuclear power, marking the fourth consecutive year of capacity growth. As of the end of 2023, global nuclear capacity stood at 371.5 GW, with 413 reactors in operation. In the IAEA’s high-case scenario, nuclear capacity could rise to 950 GW by 2050, more than doubling current levels, with small modular reactors (SMRs) contributing 25%. In the low-case scenario, capacity is…