The reactor model has also received a positive final safety evaluation report (FSER) from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The FDA consists of a finding by the nuclear agency that the ESBWR design is safe and all technical issues have been resolved.
It clears the way for the ESBWR to be built in countries around the world that recognize the FDA of a reactor design as acceptance by the ‘country of origin.’
The NRC’s positive FSER clears the path for GEH’s ESBWR to receive the agency’s final design certification in the fall of 2011, providing regulatory finality of the ESBWR design in the US.
Currently, the NRC is reviewing DTE Energy’s license application for the Fermi 3 project, which serves as the ‘reference combined license application’ for the ESBWR design.
