DL E&C Enters Small Modular Reactor Business

Business Agreement with Canada Terrestrial Energy

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] DL E&C is entering the small modular reactor (SMR) business, which is gaining attention as a decarbonized energy source.

On July 20, DL E&C announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Canadian company Terrestrial Energy regarding the development, design, procurement of equipment, and construction (EPC) of small modular reactors.

Founded in 2012, Terrestrial Energy is developing the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR), a next-generation SMR, as its main model. The molten salt reactor uses molten salt, in which nuclear fuel is dissolved in the coolant, as fuel, and is also called a liquid-fueled reactor.

Terrestrial Energy is the most advanced among Generation IV reactor developers in the licensing stage and is moving quickly to promote the project with government support and private funding. It plans to develop the first commercial integral molten salt reactor and begin commercial operation by 2031.

The molten salt reactor is designed so that the molten salt solidifies immediately upon exposure to air, making it highly safe. Since it does not use water as a coolant, its structure is simpler than conventional reactors. It does not require a pressurizer to maintain a high pressure above 150 atmospheres to prevent water coolant from boiling at temperatures above 300°C. Additionally, it operates at atmospheric pressure, so thick pressure vessels or massive containment vessels to maintain pressure are not necessary.

In particular, the integral molten salt reactor being developed by Terrestrial Energy is completely sealed by integrating nuclear fuel, moderator, and heat exchanger within a steel container. Once installed, this reactor can directly supply heat to industrial facilities and generate 390 MW of electricity.

DL E&C’s strategy is to nurture small modular reactors as one of its future new growth businesses. It plans to jointly develop the integral molten salt reactor with Terrestrial Energy, linking it with its strengths in petrochemical plant development to supply industrial power and heat sources.

In the future, DL E&C plans to explore new energy technology development for achieving carbon neutrality by linking the SMR business with green hydrogen and ammonia production.

Yoo Jae-ho, head of DL E&C’s Plant Business Division, said, "Through the partnership with Terrestrial Energy, a leader in next-generation nuclear technology, we expect to enter the global SMR market including North America," adding, "Furthermore, we will promote the development of decarbonized energy sources by linking with the hydrogen and ammonia value chains."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.