IHI, a major machinery manufacturer, has decided to invest in and participate in the business by investing in an American company that develops small nuclear reactors that are smaller and have lower output than conventional nuclear reactors.
According to the announcement, IHI will invest 20 million dollars next month and about 2.1 billion yen in Japanese yen in the American startup company "New Scale" which is engaged in the small nuclear reactor business.
IHI is developing containment vessels for nuclear power plants in Japan and overseas, and plans to utilize its know-how to supply containment vessels to small nuclear reactors scheduled to start operation in the United States as early as 2029. ..
According to the company, a small nuclear reactor has an output of more than 70,000 kW, which is smaller than that of a conventional nuclear power plant, and is characterized by a structure that makes it easy to cool the reactor.
After the accident at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, some countries have forgotten to build conventional nuclear power plants overseas, but IHI is accelerating its response to decarbonization worldwide, and demand for small nuclear reactors is demanding. It is said that it has decided to participate in the business because it is expected to expand.