Ultra Safe Nuclear and Lappeenranta University of Technology to explore first advanced research microreactor in Finland
Featured image: Rector Juha-Matti Saksa of LUT and CEO Francesco Venneri of Ultra Safe Nuclear sign agreement to study MMR advanced reactor deployment at Finland's leading climate university to support their vital decarbonization mission.
Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) in Lappeenranta, Finland today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further examine deployment of the Ultra Safe Nuclear Micro-Modular™ Reactor(MMR®) as a research and test reactor in the city of Lappeenranta at or near the University’s campus. If constructed, the reactor will be operated as a training, research and test facility and will connect to the district heating infrastructure of Lappeenrannan Energia, the municipally-owned energy company providing carbon-free district heating to the university, city, and surrounding area.
A leading energy research university, LUT research supports the world’s transition to carbon neutrality in all societal and industrial sectors. The MMR research and test reactor will test new technologies to decarbonize energy production, integrate with a microgrid, and help train the future workforce through hands-on experience with a next-generation high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor.
“The work LUT is doing to support the transition to a carbon-neutral world is important and the MMR is the perfect research and training facility to advance their knowledge and experience, especially when it comes to decarbonizing district heating systems,” said Francesco Venneri, CEO and founder of Ultra Safe Nuclear.
According to the World Nuclear Association, district heating is widely used in Finland but is largely fueled by fossil fuels such as peat and coal, which is to be phased out by 2029. At 15 MW to 30 MW of thermal energy, the MMR is small enough to be located near district heating loads. The unmatched safety of the MMR and its Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM®) fuel mean owners and regulators can site these MMR Energy Systems with confidence.
“The safety and design of the MMR makes partnering with Ultra Safe Nuclear the ideal choice for LUT and for Finland as we work toward decarbonized municipal and industrial heat supply and a carbon-neutral world,” said Juhani Hyvärinen, Professor of Modelling in Nuclear Engineering at LUT.
The project at LUT joins the growing list of global training, test, and research MMR projects at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the USA and at McMaster University in Canada.
About Ultra Safe Nuclear
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation, a U.S. corporation headquartered in Seattle, is a global leader and strong vertical integrator of nuclear technologies and services, on Earth and in Space. Major initiatives include the Micro-Modular™ reactor MMR®, the fully ceramic micro-encapsulated FCM® nuclear fuel, and nuclear power and propulsion technologies for space exploration. The company is demonstrating MMR Energy Systems at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories with Ontario Power Generation and at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with new deployment projects underway in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Ultra Safe Nuclear is committed to bringing safe, commercially competitive, clean and reliable nuclear energy to global power and industrial markets. Ultra Safe Nuclear is working with NASA and the Defense Department on advanced radioisotope power, nuclear thermal propulsion systems and advanced materials using the same strict inherent and intrinsic safety principles to drive innovation in fuels, materials, and design.
Ultra Safe Nuclear is the only private company producing TRISO and FCM fuel. This is enabling the transformation of key power and industrial sectors. Ultra Safe Nuclear is Reliable Zero-Carbon Energy. Anywhere.
Media Contacts
Brian Meeley
b.meeley@usnc.com
703.282.0691
Professor Juhani Hyvärinen
juhani.hyvarinen@lut.fi
+358 50 5241512