NuScale Power has completed fabrication and assembly of a full-scale upper module mock-up of its NuScale small modular reactor.

Quickly following the state government's announcement of a Royal Commission to look at nuclear energy prospects for South Australia, an opposition senator has launched his feisty vision for the future. If implemented, it would see the state make a technological leap to put it in front of the rest of the world in sustainability, write Ian Hore-Lacy and Ben Heard.

Clean energy sources, including small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), must make up at least 25% of the energy consumed by US federal agencies by 2025 under an executive order on federal sustainability issued by President Barack Obama.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Westinghouse's testing approach for its small modular reactor design. Approval is a significant step toward design certification and will reduce the time ultimately needed to license the Westinghouse SMR, the company said yesterday.

State-owned R&D companies from Argentina and Saudi Arabia have set up a joint venture company, Invania, to develop nuclear technology for Saudi Arabia's nuclear power program.

At least two South Korean-designed SMART reactors could be built in Saudi Arabia following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries yesterday. Korea and Saudi are to jointly promote the reactor in the global market.

A full-scale, first-of-a-kind helical coil steam generator for use in NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR) design is set to undergo performance tests in Italy.

Nuclear power is one of the most important technologies that can help the world to limit global warming to 2ºC, said OECD agencies in a Technology Roadmap for nuclear that spells out some steps to ensure this happens.

Canadian company Terrestrial Energy is to collaborate with the USA's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop its molten salt reactor to the engineering blueprint stage.

The UK government should encourage the development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), a parliamentary committee has recommended. However, it says the costs need to be fully understood beforehand.

Developing new nuclear technologies requires overcoming considerable financial and regulatory hurdles, as the promise of clean, efficient electricity remains essential to US energy policy, the Nuclear Energy Institute said, following a meeting on 11 December of a House Science Committee.

The UK has the opportunity "to regain technology leadership" in the ownership and development of low-carbon generation and secure energy supplies through investment in Small Modular Reactors, according to a feasibility study published yesterday by the National Nuclear Laboratory.