Articles tagged with "TRISO-fuel"
Standard Nuclear raises $140M as nuclear power enters its gold rush era
The article discusses the recent surge in investment and activity in the nuclear power sector, driven in part by the growing electricity demands of AI companies. This "nuclear gold rush" has extended beyond reactor startups to critical suppliers, exemplified by Standard Nuclear, a company specializing in nuclear fuel for small modular reactors. Standard Nuclear recently raised $140 million in a Series A funding round led by Decisive Point, with participation from notable investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Chevron Technology Ventures. This funding round was completed in two $70 million tranches after the company met milestones ahead of schedule, influenced by nuclear-related executive orders issued during the Trump administration. Standard Nuclear emerged from the bankruptcy of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), which had been developing TRISO fuel—a highly durable nuclear fuel designed to resist meltdown. TRISO fuel, consisting of uranium particles coated with ceramic and carbon, dates back to the 1950s but is not yet widely used. Despite this, many new nuclear startups plan to utilize
energynuclear-powersmall-modular-reactorsTRISO-fuelnuclear-startupsclean-energynuclear-fuel-materialsUS firm gets first nuclear material shipment for advanced reactor fuel
US-based Standard Nuclear has received its first shipment of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) feedstock at its Oak Ridge, Tennessee facility, marking a significant milestone in the US Department of Energy's (DOE) initiative to establish a domestic fuel supply chain for advanced nuclear reactors. Standard Nuclear, specializing in tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel production, is the first company authorized by the DOE to both receive HALEU and process it into fuel. This shipment, allocated by the DOE to Radiant—a California-based nuclear microreactor developer—provides enough material to produce a full core load for Radiant’s planned advanced reactor demonstration in 2026. The project operates under an Other Transaction Agreement with the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office and is part of a broader federal effort backed by $2.7 billion in funding to develop a domestic supply of uranium enriched between 5% and 20%, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Radiant aims to test its
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsTRISO-fuelHALEUmicroreactorsuranium-materialsUS firm gets funds for world’s first mass-producible nuclear reactors
Radiant, a US-based company developing the world’s first mass-producible micro nuclear reactors, has secured over $300 million in new funding led by Draper Associates and Boost VC. This capital injection comes just six months after their Series C round and will support the construction of the R-50 factory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, which aims to produce up to 50 reactors annually starting in 2026. Radiant is also on track to launch its first reactor, the Kaleidos Demonstration Unit (KDU), next year at Idaho National Laboratory’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility. The Kaleidos microreactor is designed to replace diesel generators in remote locations and provide backup power for critical infrastructure such as hospitals, data centers, and military sites. It features innovative safety and operational technologies, including meltdown-proof TRISO fuel, helium gas heat transfer, and passive air cooling that eliminates the need for on-site water. The reactor delivers one megawatt of
energynuclear-reactormicroreactorportable-powerTRISO-fuelclean-energyenergy-innovationProject Pele: Microreactor development speeds up with nuclear fuel delivery
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has reached a significant milestone in the development of Project Pele, a pioneering mobile microreactor prototype designed to provide resilient power for military operations. The recent delivery of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel—advanced nuclear fuel composed of uranium, carbon, and oxygen particles coated with durable layers such as silicon carbide—marks a critical step forward. These fuel particles are highly resistant to heat, radiation, and corrosion, making them ideal for advanced reactors like Project Pele. The fuel fabrication and qualification involved collaboration among INL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Department of Energy’s Advanced Gas Reactor TRISO Fuel Qualification Program, leveraging unique world-class capabilities. Project Pele is led by the Department of War’s Strategic Capabilities Office in partnership with BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT), the Department of Energy, and INL. The first delivery of TRISO fuel was celebrated by these stakeholders, highlighting the collaborative effort to accelerate innovation in advanced nuclear fuels and
energynuclear-energymicroreactorTRISO-fueladvanced-materialsIdaho-National-LaboratoryProject-PeleUS firm's goal to power Earth, space with nuclear reactor gets funding
Nuclear startup Antares has secured $96 million in a Series B funding round led by Shine Capital to advance its small modular R1 microreactor, designed for use in remote Earth locations and space applications. The funding, comprising $71 million in equity and $25 million in debt, will support equipment acquisition, factory construction, and uranium procurement. Antares’ R1 microreactor uses TRISO fuel—carbon spheres with ceramic-coated uranium—and is capable of generating between 100 kilowatts and 1 megawatt of electricity. The company, founded two years ago, is building a 145,000-square-foot facility in Torrance, California, to produce up to 10 reactors annually and has contracts with the US Air Force, Space Force, Defense Innovation Unit, and NASA. Antares aims to demonstrate its reactor for the Department of Energy (DOE) next year and to operate a full-scale prototype by 2027. This funding milestone comes amid a broader “nuclear renaissance
energynuclear-powermicroreactorsmall-modular-reactorTRISO-fueladvanced-nuclear-technologyclean-energyMicroreactor startup Antares raises $96M for land, sea, and space-based nuclear power
Nuclear startup Antares has secured $96 million in Series B funding to advance its small modular reactor (SMR) technology designed for land, sea, and space applications. The funding round, led by Shine Capital and including both equity ($71 million) and debt ($25 million), reflects growing investor interest in nuclear power amid a broader resurgence in the sector. Antares is developing a reactor utilizing TRISO fuel and aims to demonstrate its reactor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) next year, with plans to achieve full-power operation by 2027. The company is also among 11 participants in the DOE’s reactor pilot program, which targets operational reactors by mid-2026, a notably accelerated timeline for the nuclear industry. This funding and development come amid a wider revitalization of nuclear energy, including both small modular reactors and large nuclear plants. Other startups like Deep Fission, Aalo Atomics, and TerraPower have recently made significant progress or raised capital, while major corporations
energynuclear-powermicroreactorsmall-modular-reactorTRISO-fuelDepartment-of-Energyclean-energy-technologyUS picks first firm to make new nuclear fuel, cut Russia dependence
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Standard Nuclear as the first company to establish a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain under its fuel line pilot program, launched in July 2025. This initiative aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources, particularly Russia, for enriched uranium and critical nuclear materials, while fostering private sector investment in advanced nuclear technologies. Standard Nuclear will develop facilities in Tennessee and Idaho to fabricate nuclear fuel, specifically targeting advanced reactors that utilize TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic particle) fuel. The company will bear all costs related to the facility’s construction, operation, and decommissioning, while reactor developers will source nuclear feedstock, potentially through DOE’s high-assay low-enriched uranium allocation program. TRISO fuel, composed of uranium kernels encapsulated by multiple layers of carbon and ceramic materials, offers enhanced structural resilience and safety compared to traditional nuclear fuels. Its robust design allows it to retain fission products under all reactor conditions, making it
energynuclear-fueladvanced-reactorsTRISO-fuelDepartment-of-Energynuclear-supply-chainUS-energy-independence4th-gen nuclear reactors near US launch as advanced fuel line goes live
BWX Technologies (BWXT) has launched a new production line for Uranium Nitride TRISO fuel at its Lynchburg Technology Center in Virginia, marking a significant step toward supporting Generation IV nuclear reactors. The completion of a chemical vapor infiltration furnace enabled the line to become operational, allowing the facility to produce additively manufactured fuel forms with a higher density of TRISO particles per pellet. TRISO fuel particles feature a uranium core surrounded by carbon and silicon carbide layers designed to contain fission products at extremely high temperatures, enhancing fuel efficiency and potentially reducing reactor system costs. This initiative is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which backs BWXT’s BANR high-temperature gas microreactor design. BWXT’s new line focuses on uranium nitride fuel, distinct from its existing uranium oxycarbide TRISO fuel used in the Department of Defense’s Project Pele. The company collaborates with Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to test
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsTRISO-fueladditive-manufacturingmicroreactorsfuel-efficiencyStandard Nuclear emerges from the ashes of a failed startup
Standard Nuclear has launched with $42 million in funding to develop advanced nuclear fuel, building upon assets acquired from the bankruptcy of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) for $28 million. The new company’s CEO, Kurt Terrani, was formerly USNC’s vice president. The funding round was led by Decisive Point, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and others. Standard Nuclear has secured $100 million in non-binding fuel sales projected for 2027 and is collaborating with customers such as Nano Nuclear Energy and Radiant Industries. The company acknowledges that acquiring USNC’s assets accelerated its timeline. USNC had focused on commercializing TRISO fuel—uranium pellets coated with carbon- and ceramic-based layers—which is considered safer and more meltdown-resistant than traditional nuclear fuel, though it has not been widely used since its development in the 1950s. USNC’s history was marked by a broad and ambitious business model, including two reactor designs, nuclear propulsion, and spacecraft heating systems, but it was primarily funded by a single investor, Richard Hollis Helms, who invested over $100 million plus loans. Helms, a former CIA Arabist, founded USNC after retiring from intelligence work. Despite efforts to raise more capital in 2022, USNC struggled financially and declared bankruptcy in October 2024 amid mounting debts and payroll issues. Standard Nuclear, led by Decisive Point founder Thomas Hendrix, purchased USNC’s fuel-related assets in a bankruptcy auction completed in February 2025, establishing its operational base and continuing the development of TRISO fuel technology.
energynuclear-energyadvanced-nuclear-fuelTRISO-fuelstartup-fundingnuclear-materialsnuclear-reactors