Ansaldo Nucleare, Webuild to Support Small, Advanced Modular Reactor Development

Ansaldo Nucleare and Webuild signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop safe, sustainable, and flexible solutions for the nuclear energy sector—the parties will collaborate on the development, marketing, and implementation of SMRs around 300 MW and AMRs.

SMRs are modular and flexible, while AMRs are fourth-generation nuclear fission reactors in the development stage. AMRs feature new cooling systems, such as molten metal, to improve performance and deliver new functionalities: co-generation, hydrogen production, fuel-cycle solutions, and nuclear waste management.

According to Ansaldo Nucleare, SMRs and AMRs will be able to generate cheap, dispatchable, and decarbonized energy due to low investment costs, operational flexibility, construction modularity, production serialization, and a simplified certification procedure.

Ansaldo Nucleare News

In July 2024, a consortium of EDF, Edison, Ansaldo Energia, Ansaldo Nucleare, and Federacciai signed an MoU to integrate nuclear energy for the competitiveness and decarbonization of Italy’s steel industry. The MoU signatories will consider nuclear co-investment opportunities, including the construction of SMRs, over the next decade.

Per the MoU, partners will leverage EDF’s SMR technology, Edison’s expertise, and the engineering and industrial capabilities of Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare to establish a nuclear energy supply contract in the medium- and long-term. The consortium’s goal is to implement an energy transition that relies on a baseload, flexible energy source at fixed costs—this enables decarbonization while minimizing overall energy costs.

In February, Ansaldo Nucleare, Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica (SNN), and SACE signed an MoU to support the strengthening of nuclear energy production in Romania, specifically linked to the life extension and development of Units 1, 3, and 4 at the Cernavoda power plant. With the insurance support of SACE, the MoU will establish a financing line of up to €2 billion to execute nuclear activities.

Currently, two 700 MWe CANDU 6 type units are in operation at the Cernavoda power plant, which became operational in 1996 and 2007, respectively. Together, these units supply approximately 20% of Romania’s energy needs. Ansaldo Nucleare participated in the construction of the units, which are designed for an operating cycle of 30 years. At the end of 2026, Unit 1will reach the 30-year milestone and, as a result, SNN has started the refurbishment process.