Small modular reactors (SMRs) are currently being considered as future investments for commercial entities due to perceived advantages over traditional large-scale power reactors, particularly their considerably lower capital costs. One strategy for lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of SMRs is to increase their burnup by utilizing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels, which range from 5 to 20 weight percent (w/o) of U-235. By increasing fuel enrichment to HALEU levels, with higher specific fuel costs compared to standard enrichment, a plant may achieve an increased capacity factor by extending its fuel cycle and thereby reducing average yearly fuel supply costs. It is expected that the benefits of optimizing fuel enrichment to extend a reactor’s fuel cycle outweigh the added cost due to more expensive fuel. In this paper, the net benefit of extending an SMR’s fuel cycle by enriching uranium fuel to HALEU levels was estimated using 2017 nuclear fuel production market data with NuScale’s 160 MWt SMR design as a case study. It was found that, for NuScale’s design, plant LCOE decreased with increasing cycle length enabled by higher fuel enrichment. It was also observed that doubling cycle time from 24 months to 48 months netted each reactor a 1.23 $/MWh reduction in LCOE. The total savings for a 12-module SMR design were estimated to be around $5,840,000 per year. Therefore, utilizing HALEU fuel in SMRs can vastly improve their economic efficiency.

A review of the generic organization literature is focused into a model outlining key relationships among organizational factors and nuclear power plant safety. Volume I of the report contains an overview of the literature. Volume II provides a more detailed analysis of those organizational factors which are expected to be associated with measured indicators of plant safety . • ; i ; ABSTRACT • • • • • EXECUTIVE SU~IMARY CONTENTS

A review of the qeneric orqanization literature is focused into a model outlining key relationships amonq organizational factors and nuclear power plant safety. Volume of the report contains an overview of the literature. 'Volume II provides a more detailed analysis of those orqanizational factors l'<'hich are 12xoected to he associated 'Nith measurerl indicators uf plant safety.

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