NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: SMR) and Ebara Elliott Energy announced a collaboration to develop and test a commercial-scale steam compressor system that would integrate nuclear technology with petrochemical plant operations, according to a company statement.

The partnership aims to demonstrate how NuScale's small modular reactor technology can provide high-temperature process steam for petrochemical facilities. The system would use NuScale Power Modules to generate steam at temperatures of 500 degrees Celsius or higher, which would then be compressed to reach the elevated temperatures required for industrial processes.

Under the collaboration, Ebara Elliott Energy will contribute its turbomachinery expertise to develop energy-conversion systems for petrochemical plants powered by NuScale's nuclear technology. The steam produced by the nuclear modules would be isolated from external facilities through an intermediate heat exchanger before being processed through adiabatic compression.

The project targets completion of the compressor component by 2027. The companies stated they are currently seeking candidates for field testing of the system.

"The application of NuScale's industry-leading technology to produce high temperature process steam is an exciting use case that unlocks significant commercial opportunities for petrochemical plants," said Dr. José Reyes, Chief Technology Officer of NuScale Power.

NuScale's technology received design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Each NuScale Power Module can generate 77 megawatts of electricity or 250 megawatts thermal output.

The companies plan to present their collaboration progress at the World Petrochemical Conference in Houston on March 24.