Jensen Hughes/EXCEL Services Partner with U.S. Department of State on Project Phoenix to Advance the responsible deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Ukraine
Jensen Hughes/EXCEL Services are excited to announce a new partnership with the U.S. Department of State to support Project Phoenix in Ukraine, a vital initiative under the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program. Launched in 2019, FIRST is a multiagency U.S. government initiative that provides capacity building support to partner countries exploring the potential for small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear reactor technologies. FIRST helps countries meet their clean energy needs consistent with the highest nuclear security, safety, and nonproliferation standards, in addition to helping partner countries safely and responsibly build a small modular reactor or other advanced reactor program. Project Phoenix in Ukraine was jointly announced by Ukrainian Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins at the at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov. 16, 2024. They were joined by U.S. Department of Energy Acting Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Dr. Michael Goff, H.E. Yuriy Husyef, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Director of Argonne National Laboratory Dr. Paul Kearns, and Neil Wilmshurst, Chief Nuclear Strategy Officer of the Electric Power Research Institute. This partnership aims to support the U.S. Government’s efforts to assist Ukraine in its deployment of advanced nuclear technology for safe, secure and sustainable energy solutions.
As part of an expansion of Project Phoenix in Central and Eastern Europe, the initiative will facilitate the transition of Ukraine’s coal-fired power plants to advanced SMRs utilizing existing infrastructure and workforce retraining. The project will carry out siting and feasibility studies, develop a comprehensive grid integration strategy and deliver advisory services on coal-to-SMR conversions. Jensen Hughes/Excel Services will support the project objectives by providing engineering, licensing and business support.
With the potential to enhance energy security, economic feasibility and safety, SMRs present a promising avenue for Central and Eastern European countries to advance sustainable and efficient nuclear energy solutions. SMRs’ modular design allows for scalability and flexibility and offers significant advantages over large-scale reactors, such as streamlined construction, lower capital costs, faster deployment times and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. This adaptability is particularly beneficial for regions with diverse energy needs or those requiring decentralized power generation.
For more information about the partnership, please visit https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-and-ukraine-announce-partnership-on-leading-edge-small-modular-reactor-projects-at-cop29/.
About Jensen Hughes
Jensen Hughes is the global leader in engineering, consulting and technology that make our world safe, secure and resilient. Worldwide, we are recognized most widely for our leadership in fire protection engineering while also specializing in other critical competencies core to our purpose, including risk-informed engineering and nuclear energy services. For over 30 years, our diverse teams of industry-leading nuclear engineers, fire protection experts, and regulatory affairs and safety assessment consultants have been enhancing complex nuclear facilities' safety and operational performance. Leveraging our extensive background in regulatory and licensing projects, we support all phases of SMR and advanced reactor design development, as well as the long-term operation of existing nuclear power plants.
About EXCEL Services
EXCEL has been a leader in the nuclear industry for more than 39 years, providing specialized professional services and innovative solutions to U.S. and global nuclear technology organizations, nuclear plant designers, operators and regulatory authorities in the areas of licensing, engineering, technical, operations and regulatory support. EXCEL combines broad and deep industry knowledge with world-class technical expertise, problem-solving consultants, and cost-saving strategies to enhance safety and security and create high-impact solutions.