Proud to announce that Alva Energy contributed to the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office’s landmark Nuclear Liftoff report, providing insight on cost modeling and financing frameworks for large and small modular nuclear facilities.
The updated report features data from our COSMIC software (Cost Optimized Simulator of Manufacturing, Installation and Construction). Originally pioneered by our CTO @Robbie Stewart at MIT under the name NCET, and expanded at Alva, COSMIC applies a consistent methodology across different reactor designs to reveal how specific design choices drive costs and schedules. Using advanced techniques like genetic algorithms for schedule optimization and Monte Carlo methods for uncertainty analysis, COSMIC provides stakeholders with robust, data-driven insights into how various design decisions impact the bottom line.
Our contributions also included analysis of nuclear project history and historical drivers of cost overruns, helping to identify key lessons learned and best practices for future projects. Our team’s expertise in nuclear project economics helped inform the report’s comprehensive analysis of financing pathways and cost structures – key elements in accelerating America’s clean energy transition through nuclear innovation.
Alva is committed to bringing practical, data-driven solutions to nuclear project development. We’re honored to work alongside the DOE LPO in advancing the future of nuclear energy, and it was a pleasure working with our colleagues at MIT, McKinsey, and other companies on this important initiative.
