Steel Mills

Nucor Advances Nuclear Energy Plans for Mini Mills
Written by Laura Miller
May 16, 2023
Nucor has taken another step toward using nuclear power to fuel its electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel mills.
The Charlotte, N.C.-based steelmaker has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NuScale Power to evaluate co-locating NuScale’s VOYGR™ small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) power plants near Nucor’s mills. Doing so would provide carbon-free electricity to the mills and help the steelmaker achieve even greener steelmaking.
NuScale says one of its VOYGR SMR plants can produce up to 924 MWe of carbon-free energy on just 0.05 square miles, compared to 94 square miles for wind and 17 square miles for solar.
The two companies are also exploring an expanded manufacturing partnership in which Nucor’s net-zero steel Econiq™ would be used in the building of NuScale’s projects. NuScale is also considering building a power module manufacturing facility near a Nucor mill.
The MoU further strengthens the relationship between the two companies. Last year, Nucor invested $15 million in NuScale to further its technology.
“Nucor is committed to supporting the development of transformative technologies that will deploy safe, reliable, affordable, 24/7, base-load carbon free power, like NuScale’s VOYGR SMR plants. Not only will Nucor’s partnership with NuScale help pave the way for a zero-carbon energy future for our nation, but we will be building this new generation with the cleanest steel products made anywhere in the world,” commented Nucor chair, president and CEO Leon Topalian.
“NuScale is thrilled to take this step forward with Nucor, a company that shares our commitment to sustainability and deeply understands the role of NuScale’s technology in delivering clean, reliable baseload power to support the global energy transition,” noted NuScale president and CEO John Hopkins.
By Laura Miller, laura@steelmarketupdate.com

Laura Miller
Read more from Laura MillerLatest in Steel Mills

August US mill shipments slip but still higher than last year
The American Iron and Steel Institute reported a decline in the monthly shipments of US mills from July to August.

TransPod, Algoma, Supreme Steel linkup anchors Canadian steel in high-speed transit build
The three Canadian companies have announced a strategic partnership to support the development of an ultra-high-speed transit line from Edmonton to Calgary.

Metallus, USW agree to tentative four-year labor deal
Metallus and the United Steelworkers (USW) have agreed to a tentative four-year labor contract.

ArcelorMittal Dofasco resumes cokemaking after emergency maintenance
The Canadian steelmaker reported on Sept. 30 that “urgent maintenance” was needed in its coke plant off-gas systems. The work required coke oven gas from the No. 2 coke plant to be flared for most of that week.

AISI: Raw steel production ticks back down
US raw steel output declined last week after increasing the week prior, according to the latest data from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Output has see-sawed from week to week since mid-August. Still, it has remained historically strong over the past four months and has held near multi-year highs since June. Domestic mills […]