by Prodigy Clean Energy
May 10, 2024
Jeju Island, Republic of Korea – On May 6-10, 2024, Federico Puente Espel, VP of Strategy and Technology Integration at Prodigy Clean Energy, had the honor of presenting at the IAEA 22nd INPRO Dialogue Forum on Successful Development and Sustainable Deployment of SMRs. He showcased Prodigy’s approach for Transportable Nuclear Power Plants (TNPPs) that will enable sustainable deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in marine accessible regions where building an SMR using more traditional construction practices, even with modules, would be too challenging or expensive.
Federico spoke of nuclear energy as a clean, reliable and affordable option, and explained that a TNPP would be able to extend these benefits to coastal locations where either land is scarce, there is little or no infrastructure, or the area is already occupied and/or very expensive to develop. Prodigy’s approach avoids complex and expensive on-site construction by enclosing all required structures, systems and components (SSC) on marine structures that would be manufactured and outfitted in a shipyard then transported to site. The TNPP would be deployed right at the shoreline within a protected and enclosed harbor.
By using a Prodigy TNPP, siting options for SMRs become more flexible – the sites themselves require less preparation, and at the end of service life, the TNPP would be fully removed, reducing decommissioning complexity and cost, and rapidly returning the site to its original status.
Following the presentation, questions from the audience focused around how Prodigy TNPPs would be made capable of reaching remote locations, as well as coastal cities to provide energy where it is needed, for electric and non-electric applications; and how Prodigy would navigate the technical, legal and regulatory frameworks in order to be ready for deployment. Federico clarified that the fact that Prodigy’s TNPP has more in common with a relocatable nuclear-qualified “building” than a barge allows Prodigy to meet existing regulatory requirements to a major extent, while also being able to demonstrate equivalent safety and security outcomes using innovative approaches. Prodigy is integrating critical features upfront into its TNPP design process, including safety, security and safeguards by design, as well as methodologies for efficient waste management, and decommissioning.
Prodigy TNPPs will be pivotal enabling technologies to expedite nuclear energy in addressing the world’s biggest challenges faced today – namely, climate change mitigation, energy poverty and energy security. The company is solving the real issues as they relate to bringing uninterrupted, clean power to coastal remote and grid-connected locations. Prodigy’s TNPP solutions are safe, practical, scalable in terms of power output, aligned with mature regulatory frameworks, and ready for near-term market entry.
Special thanks to the South Korean authorities and to the IAEA INPRO team, in particular to Mr. Kim, Ms. Scherer, and Mr. Hahn, for their warm, welcoming and most kind attention.
