THE Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the Philippines’ largest electric distribution utility, and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), the U.S.-based global leader in the deployment of fourth-generation gas-cooled Micro-Modular™ Reactor (MMR®) Energy Systems, today signed a cooperative agreement to study the potential deployment of one or more MMR Energy Systems in the Philippines.
The agreement builds on the partnership between the two companies announced in August.
Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel Pangilinan, who was represented by Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Ronnie Aperocho, and USNC Founder and CEO Francesco Venneri executed the deal at the sidelines of the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit.
It was witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“USNC is changing the nuclear safety and energy security conversations in the Philippines with these Micro-Modular Reactors. This agreement moves us forward with a partner who understands these important issues alongside the essential nature of the cost and reliability of the electricity supply,” Pangilinan said.
“This also signifies the commitment of Meralco to explore and utilize diverse energy sources for the benefit of Filipinos. Nuclear technology should be able to help us meet our country’s growing demand for energy, achieve energy independence, and transition towards a sustainable energy future,” he added.
Under the cooperative agreement, USNC will conduct a pre-feasibility study that will run for four months to familiarize Meralco with MMR systems and how these can be effectively utilized in the Philippines.
Depending on the results of the pre-feasibility study, Meralco has the option to conduct a more detailed feasibility study with focus on the adoption and deployment of MMR energy systems.
The study will help Meralco in critical decisions and potential future activities on project-specific studies and project development plans at identified sites. The study will assess financial, technical, safety, and siting, among other considerations.
The MMR Energy System features the high temperature helium-cooled micro reactor, the MMR unit or “nuclear battery” that can safely and reliably provide up to 45 MWth of high-quality heat, delivered into a centralized heat storage unit.
One or more MMR nuclear batteries combine their heat in the heat storage unit, from where electric power or superheated steam can be extracted through conventional means to meet a wide range of power requirements, from tens to hundreds of MW. USNC has developed and patented its Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM®) fuel used in the MMR to provide the safest possible nuclear power system at the most fundamental level.
“Meralco is demonstrating real leadership in advancing the energy security and sustainability roadmap for the Philippines,” said Venneri.
“Our MMR nuclear batteries can play a major role in delivering those benefits. The plans that will quickly follow this study place Meralco well on the way toward creating a reliable, low-carbon, equitable and secure future for Filipinos,” they added.
This nuclear initiative is part of Meralco’s long-term sustainability strategy through which the power company will play out its just, orderly, and affordable energy transition to clean energy across three horizons. Meralco will accelerate its shift to green power as it assesses and adopts next-generation clean technologies such as MMR energy systems.
