NuScale Power has taken a significant step from design to reality by commissioning Paragon Energy Solutions to finalize its core digital safety system.
This move is best understood as the logical next step after a major victory. First, just weeks ago, NuScale received its second major design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its more powerful 77 MWe reactor module. This approval was a huge de-risking event, confirming that the fundamental design is safe and licensable from the regulator's perspective. With the blueprint approved, the challenge shifted from what to build to how to build it safely and consistently.
This is where the Paragon deal comes in. Paragon, now a subsidiary of Mirion Technologies, will develop the final design for the Highly Integrated Protection System (HIPS). Think of HIPS as the SMR's digital 'nervous system.' It's the complex web of sensors and software that monitors the reactor and ensures it operates safely, automatically shutting it down if needed. Finalizing this system is a critical prerequisite for any utility to get a license to actually construct and operate a plant. It turns a paper design into a buildable, insurable, and operable power source.
Second, this decision strengthens the entire manufacturing supply chain. By locking in the specifications for the safety and control systems, other key suppliers now have the certainty they need. For example, Doosan Enerbility, which is responsible for manufacturing the large, heavy modules of the reactor, can now proceed with confidence, knowing exactly how the control systems will integrate with their components. The acquisition of Paragon by Mirion in late 2025 also helped, creating a financially stronger and more integrated supplier for these critical parts.
Finally, this is all happening because the market demand is undeniable. The explosive growth of AI and data centers has created an urgent need for 'clean firm' power—electricity that is both carbon-free and available 24/7. SMRs are a perfect fit. This demand is visible in the plans by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to potentially develop up to 6 GW of power using NuScale's technology and a firm project moving forward in Romania. To meet this demand, NuScale needs a standardized, ready-to-deploy product, and a finalized HIPS is the key to that.
- SMR (Small Modular Reactor): A type of nuclear fission reactor that is smaller than conventional reactors and can be manufactured at a plant and brought to a site to be assembled.
- I&C (Instrumentation and Control): The 'nervous system' of a power plant, comprising sensors, controllers, and software that monitor and manage plant operations.
- Clean Firm Power: Electricity that is available around the clock (firm) and does not produce carbon emissions (clean), such as nuclear or geothermal power.