Paragon, a Mirion Technologies company and a long‑standing supplier of safety‑related products for the nuclear sector, has been awarded a new contract by NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR). The agreement calls for Paragon to complete the final design work on its Highly Integrated Protection System (HIPS) that underpins the NuScale Power Module™ (NPM). NuScale’s NPM is the first and only small modular reactor (SMR) design that has received full certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). By securing Paragon’s expertise, NuScale moves a critical piece of the digital instrumentation and control (I&C) puzzle toward completion, reinforcing the safety, reliability, and cybersecurity foundations needed for commercial deployment. The contract arrives at a moment when NuScale already has components for twelve power modules in production and is positioning the technology for a range of applications—from electricity generation to data‑center power, district heating, desalination, and large‑scale hydrogen production.
Paragon to Deliver Final Design and Verification for NuScale’s HIPS Platform
Under the terms of the agreement, Paragon will provide non‑recurring engineering (NRE) and detailed design deliverables for three instrumentation and control (I&C) systems that are built on the HIPS platform.
- Module Protection System (MPS) – This safety‑related reactor protection system safeguards each individual NPM by monitoring key parameters and initiating a rapid shutdown if limits are exceeded. The contract also includes Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services for MPS development, a prerequisite for qualifying safety‑critical software in nuclear applications.
- Safety Data Interface System (SDIS) – An augmented, post‑accident monitoring system that delivers high‑quality plant data to operators after an incident, enabling informed decision‑making and supporting emergency response.
- Plant Protection System (PPS) – A non‑safety system that manages control‑room habitability functions such as heating, ventilation, and air‑conditioning (HVAC), ensuring a safe environment for personnel during normal and abnormal conditions.
The HIPS platform itself was purpose‑built to satisfy today’s cybersecurity requirements while preserving the “analog‑like” reliability that nuclear operators expect. It incorporates modern diagnostics and Model‑Based Design, allowing system behavior and design documentation to coexist in a single, traceable environment. This architecture can be configured from a single channel up to a full four‑division Reactor Protection System, giving NuScale flexibility as it scales from a single module to a 12‑module plant. The platform’s design was co‑developed with NuScale and received NRC Safety Evaluation Report (SER) approval in 2017, confirming its compliance with regulatory expectations for digital I&C.
John Hopkins, President and CEO of NuScale Power, said the partnership “helps us to achieve the goal of delivering reliable, carbon‑free power to our customers while ensuring the highest level of safety.” Doug VanTassell, President and CEO of Paragon, added that the work “is foundational to bringing the first SMR of its kind into operation” and that the HIPS platform is now “entrusted with the safety‑critical systems of the most significant new reactor design in a generation.”
Significance for SMR Deployment and Grid Planning
NuScale’s NPM design can generate up to 77 MW electric per module, and a common control room is capable of managing up to 12 modules for a total output of 924 MW. The contract’s timing is notable because NuScale already has certain components for twelve modules in production, indicating that the supply chain is moving from prototype parts to larger‑scale manufacturing. By finalizing the HIPS design and completing IV&V, Paragon is addressing the digital I&C requirements that underpin reactor safety, cybersecurity, and operational reliability—key considerations for utilities evaluating SMR integration into existing grids.
The HIPS platform’s blend of analog reliability, modern diagnostics, and model‑based engineering is intended to reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) costs while meeting contemporary cybersecurity standards. Those cost and risk reductions can influence capital allocation decisions for utilities and industrial buyers, making the economics of SMR projects more attractive relative to traditional large‑scale reactors or fossil‑fuel alternatives. Moreover, the independent verification component provides regulators and investors with documented evidence that safety‑critical software has been rigorously tested, potentially shortening licensing timelines and improving credit profiles for project financing.
Context Within Nuclear Supply Chains and Capital Deployment
Paragon’s role as a supplier of safety‑related products and components positions it as a critical link in the nuclear supply chain for advanced reactors. The inclusion of IV&V services in the contract reflects heightened regulatory scrutiny of software in safety‑critical environments—a trend that can affect project schedules and financing structures. Demonstrating completed design work and validated safety systems helps developers present a lower‑risk profile to lenders and equity partners, supporting stronger credit ratings and potentially reducing the cost of capital.
NuScale’s broader market strategy targets a diverse set of end‑users, including electricity generators, data‑center operators, district‑heating networks, desalination plants, and commercial‑scale hydrogen producers. Completion of the HIPS design work is a prerequisite for moving from prototype to commercial units, and it may influence permitting schedules, long‑term power purchase agreements (PPAs), and other contractual arrangements that depend on demonstrated safety compliance.
Key Takeaways
- Paragon will complete non‑recurring engineering, design deliverables, and IV&V for NuScale’s Module Protection System, Safety Data Interface System, and Plant Protection System under the HIPS platform.
- The HIPS platform received NRC Safety Evaluation Report approval in 2017 and is designed to meet modern cybersecurity and diagnostic requirements while maintaining analog‑style reliability.
- NuScale’s NPM can produce up to 77 MW per module, with a common control room supporting up to 12 modules (924 MW total), and the company already has components of 12 modules in production.
EnergyInsyte's Take
The contract advances NuScale’s path to commercial SMR deployment by closing a critical design gap in safety‑related control systems. While the work removes a key technical hurdle, actual plant construction and grid integration will still depend on licensing, financing, and site‑specific permitting. Executives should monitor the timing of HIPS validation milestones and any subsequent updates to NuScale’s deployment schedule, as these will shape capital planning and risk assessments for prospective SMR projects.
Source: Businesswire
