
Donna Kemp Spangler, INL Communications
Nuclear and hydrogen could be the ideal fuel for recharging electric trucks, opening potential markets for developers of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
That’s according to a University of Michigan study funded by Emerging Energy Markets Analysis, an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) initiative.
This analysis addresses a critical aspect of low-emission energy transitions, said Steve Aumeier, senior advisor of INL’s strategic programs. “It answers the question, how do we practically transition heavy transport paradigms, and what technologies might provide the best value long-term? With the new deployment frameworks that small nuclear reactors provide, the study shows how these might be a very valuable part of the strategy.”
The project was prompted in part by the growing demand to electrify heavy transport vehicles, especially in areas with limited transmission interconnections, said An T. Pham, a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan.
Pham analyzed 219 hypothetical electric vehicle trucking stations across the United States using simulation models. Those stations would have two energy options. One would be distributed energy resources that include solar, battery storage and SMRs. The other would be centralized power that requires building transmission lines to tap into the electric grid. Most studies of this kind typically assume electricity is sourced from the electric grid; this is the first to consider SMRs and other distributed energy resources as a competing energy source.
“We developed a model that looked at minimizing costs of meeting heavy-duty vehicle energy demands by optimizing investments in distributed energy sources,” Pham said.
“To better understand this market potential for SMRs and microreactors, we answered three questions,” Pham added.
- Cost savings for on-site SMRs
- Value change if part of the heavy-duty vehicle fleet uses electricity and hydrogen
- The use of microreactors, which are much smaller than SMRs
The study concluded:
- There’s a significant market potential for SMRs and microreactors at EV trucking stations across the United States.
- SMRs are more cost-effective than other distributed energy resources and can ensure that powering EV trucks doesn’t overwhelm the grid.
- Investments in distributed energy resource can offer annual cost savings of almost $2 billion nationwide, with annual cost savings for an individual charging station of over $100 million.
- The study applies to both EV trucks and hydrogen-based heavy duty vehicles as part of a decarbonized approach.
Michael Craig, assistant professor at Michigan and member of the Emerging Energy Markets Analysis Initiative, presented this study at the American Nuclear Society’s winter meeting in November. There was significant interest, he said, driven by the need to find new markets for deploying emerging SMR technologies.
Original Article: STUDY SHOWS ADVANTAGES OF CHARGING ELECTRIC HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES WITH SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS
More from: University of Michigan | Idaho National Laboratory
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Charging electric heavy-duty vehicles
- Incoming delivery: Hyundai Mighty electric truck
Mighty electric truck is set to join the ever-growing Hyundai electrified vehicle range Battery range of 240km (laden) and ...
- How to prepare our grids for electric trucks
In mid-February, the EU Commission is due to publish a law proposal essential to the energy transition, the next CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs ... grids will be able to manage the ...
- Lack of heavy duty electric vehicles stalling transition of interested businesses, municipalities
As more businesses and municipalities seek greener solutions for transportation, those with heavier duty vehicles say there are limitations preventing them from switching entirely to battery electric ...
- Charging infrastructure holds back EV truck production, deployment
Having the charging and hydrogen infrastructure in place will ... Along with DTNA, other North American OEMs have been rolling out heavy-duty battery-electric vehicles designed for regional hauls, ...
- Health benefits of electric vehicles are adding up, study shows
Electric cars are still in the minority on America's roads, yet researchers are already seeing health benefits from reduced tailpipe pollution.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Small modular nuclear reactors
- Sheffield engineering firm lands contract with fourth nuclear power provider
“This MOU complements a broader body of work that we are undertaking for the UK’s future civil nuclear programme, with Small Modular Reactors (SMR’s) as a key element, alongside larger nuclear power ...
- North nuclear campaign group plans to widen its remit and change its name
A NORTH campaign group, which was set up ten years ago to oppose the transport of nuclear material from Dounreay, plans to broaden its remit and change its name. Highlands Against Nuclear Transport ...
- Small isn’t beautiful when it comes to the nuclear renaissance
That could be on the brink of a change, however. For more than a decade, research and venture capital has focused on the potential of small modular reactors or SMRs — a variety of power plant that ...
- The Download: inside our chaotic brains, and small nuclear reactors
We were promised smaller nuclear reactors. Where are they? For over a decade, we’ve heard that small reactors could be a big part of nuclear power’s future. In theory, small modular reactors (SMRs) ...
- Small Modular Reactors Struggle With Scalability
Maybe, though, not the same kind of nuclear as before. Maybe small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).” Three distinct achievements in modular nuclear reactors made the news recently. Last month the ...