NuScale Power's 147 Volume Spike to 137th Market Rank Fuels SMR Expansion as TVA-ENTRA1 Partner on 6-Plant 6GW Nuclear Push for AI Era

On September 2, NuScale Power surged 7.47% with a trading volume of $0.73 billion, a 147.61% increase from the previous day, ranking 137th in market activity. The stock’s performance coincided with a major strategic partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and ENTRA1 Energy, a key player in NuScale’s ecosystem. The agreement aims to develop six nuclear power plants across TVA’s seven-state region, leveraging NuScale’s small modular reactor (SMR) technology to generate up to 6 gigawatts of capacity. This collaboration aligns with growing demand for energy from sectors like data centers and AI, positioning NuScale’s SMRs as a scalable solution for energy security.

ENTRA1 Energy, NuScale’s exclusive global commercialization partner, will develop and own the power plants, selling electricity to TVA under future power purchase agreements. The partnership underscores NuScale’s role in advancing SMR deployment, particularly as the first and only SMR design to receive U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval. TVA emphasized the project’s potential to power 4.5 million homes or 60 new data centers, reflecting the utility’s broader strategy to modernize its energy infrastructure. The deal also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in scaling next-generation nuclear technologies, with TVA leveraging its existing regulatory groundwork, including an early site permit at Clinch River, to accelerate site evaluations.

ENTRA1 Energy’s exclusive rights to commercialize NuScale’s SMRs position it as a critical enabler of the company’s market expansion. The partnership includes a 50/50 joint venture, ENTRA1 NuScale LLC, which will handle deployment, financing, and project execution. TVA’s CEO highlighted the agreement as a milestone in the U.S. nuclear renaissance, emphasizing the need for reliable, abundant energy to support economic growth and emerging technologies. The collaboration also opens avenues for federal agency partnerships and joint gas-fired capabilities, further diversifying TVA’s energy portfolio. With the NRC’s recent approval of NuScale’s 77-MW US460 module, the regulatory path for site-specific licensing remains a key focus, though challenges in financing and construction risk management persist.

Backtest results indicate that the TVA-ENTRA1 agreement marks the largest SMR deployment program in U.S. history. The structure aims to mitigate construction risks for TVA ratepayers while ensuring long-term price stability through contracted power sales. This approach contrasts with NuScale’s previous Carbon Free Power Project in Utah, which faced cancellation due to escalating costs. The current partnership’s emphasis on pre-approved SMR designs and strategic site selection may enhance its viability, aligning with TVA’s $19 billion investment plan to expand generation and transmission infrastructure. As the project progresses, regulatory approvals and market conditions will remain pivotal to its success.