Articles tagged with "advanced-reactors"
2-metric-ton nuclear fuel boost planned under US-French collab
The article reports on a new US-French collaboration between Standard Nuclear Inc. and Framatome to form a joint venture, Standard Nuclear-Framatome (SNF), aimed at producing commercial-scale quantities of Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) nuclear fuel. TRISO fuel, known for its exceptional safety and durability at extreme temperatures, is ideal for advanced reactors such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors. The venture plans to begin manufacturing at Framatome’s Richland, Washington facility in 2027, pending regulatory approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with an initial production target of 2 metric tons of TRISO fuel annually. This represents a significant increase in capacity to support the growing advanced reactor market in the US and globally. The partnership leverages Standard Nuclear’s specialized manufacturing capabilities alongside Framatome’s extensive fuel cycle expertise and infrastructure, overseen by a joint board of directors. Both companies emphasize the strategic importance of establishing a robust domestic TR
energynuclear-fuelTRISOadvanced-reactorssmall-modular-reactorsnuclear-collaborationreactor-safetyUS firm tests powerful nuclear laser to advance uranium enrichment
Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), a U.S.-based company, has completed a large-scale demonstration testing campaign of its SILEX laser uranium enrichment process at its Test Loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. The campaign, which began in May 2024 and will continue through 2025, aims to produce hundreds of pounds of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for nuclear fuel. GLE’s facility is notable as the world’s only uranium enrichment site that is not government-owned or heavily government-funded. The company, jointly owned by Australia’s Silex Systems and Canada’s Cameco Corporation, is working to commercialize this third-generation laser enrichment technology, which is considered more efficient than traditional methods like gaseous diffusion and gas centrifuge. The SILEX process uses highly selective laser excitation to separate the fissile uranium-235 isotope from uranium-238, increasing the concentration of U-235 needed for nuclear reactors. This technology is seen as pivotal for advancing domestic uranium enrichment capabilities in
energynuclear-energyuranium-enrichmentlaser-technologynuclear-fueladvanced-reactorsenergy-supply-chainRetiring coal plants could host China’s advanced nuclear reactors
China is pursuing an innovative "Coal to Nuclear" (C2N) strategy that aims to convert retiring coal-fired power plants into sites for advanced nuclear reactors. This approach leverages existing infrastructure such as grid connections and water access, particularly in coastal regions, to accelerate the transition to clean energy amid land scarcity and decarbonization goals. China’s vast coal capacity—over 1.19 terawatts, with about 100 gigawatts expected to retire by 2030—makes this strategy uniquely feasible. The initiative focuses on deploying fourth-generation reactors like high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and molten salt thorium reactors, which produce hotter steam compatible with coal turbines and have enhanced safety features, including meltdown resistance without active cooling. These advanced reactors require smaller safety zones and less water than traditional nuclear plants, making them suitable for repurposing coal plant sites. China already operates demonstration HTGRs and experimental molten salt reactors, with plans for larger-scale deployment. The C
energynuclear-powerclean-energycoal-plant-conversionChina-energy-transitionadvanced-reactorsdecarbonizationUS-UK firms sign nuclear deals promising gigawatts of clean energy
US and UK companies have signed multiple significant deals to accelerate the development of new nuclear energy projects in both countries, supported by an upcoming government agreement called the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy. This partnership, expected to be formalized during President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain, aims to streamline nuclear project licensing from three to four years down to about two years, thereby facilitating faster deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. The initiative is projected to unlock billions in private investment and create thousands of jobs, signaling a major expansion in nuclear energy infrastructure. Key deals include a collaboration between US-based X-Energy and UK’s Centrica to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, potentially generating enough power for 1.5 million homes and delivering up to $54 billion in economic value. Other projects involve Holtec, EDF, and Tritax developing small modular reactor-powered data centers in Nottinghamshire, and Last Energy and DP World planning one of the world’s first micro modular nuclear plants with $108
energynuclear-energyclean-energyadvanced-reactorsmodular-reactorsenergy-storageUS-UK-partnershipOklo to open first private nuclear fuel recycling facility in the US
Oklo Inc., a nuclear technology company, is set to open the United States’ first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with an investment of up to $1.68 billion. This facility will recycle used nuclear fuel, recovering usable materials to produce new fuel for advanced reactors such as Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse. The project is expected to create over 800 jobs and aims to reduce nuclear waste while establishing a secure domestic supply chain for clean, reliable, and affordable energy. Oklo is also exploring a partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle TVA’s used nuclear fuel, marking the first time a U.S. utility has considered converting its spent fuel into clean electricity. The United States currently stores over 94,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel, which contains energy equivalent to about 1.3 trillion barrels of oil—five times the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. By unlocking this energy through modern recycling processes, Oklo’s initiative could significantly contribute
energynuclear-energyfuel-recyclingadvanced-reactorsclean-energyenergy-policynuclear-technologyUS to boost nuclear fuel, reactor development with uranium allocation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a major step to advance nuclear energy by conditionally allocating high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to three domestic companies—Antares Nuclear, Standard Nuclear, and Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources LLC—to support near-term fuel needs for advanced reactor development. HALEU, enriched between 5% and less than 20% uranium-235, is crucial for enabling smaller, more efficient reactor designs with longer operating cycles, which current reactors running on up to 5% enriched uranium cannot achieve. This allocation follows an earlier distribution of HALEU to five companies and aims to jumpstart a new domestic advanced fuel supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign sources and fostering a U.S. nuclear energy renaissance. The DOE emphasizes the urgent need for HALEU, as its absence could jeopardize the development, demonstration, and deployment of many advanced nuclear technologies. Currently, HALEU is not available from domestic suppliers,
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsuranium-fuelHALEUDepartment-of-Energynuclear-fuel-developmentUS taps 11 nuclear reactor projects to speed up clean energy goals
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 11 advanced nuclear reactor projects to participate in President Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, aiming to accelerate the development, testing, and licensing of advanced reactors by July 4, 2026. This initiative seeks to streamline the construction and operation of at least three test reactors outside national laboratories, supporting the goal of making the U.S. a global leader in nuclear energy while ensuring a steady supply of clean energy to American homes and businesses. The selected companies, including Aalo Atomics, Oklo, Terrestrial Energy, and others, will bear all costs related to their reactors’ lifecycle but will benefit from faster regulatory pathways and improved access to private funding. Among the highlighted projects is Terrestrial Energy’s TETRA, which utilizes Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology to deliver 822 MWth/390 MWe, promising efficient and low-cost electricity generation. Oklo, backed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, is
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsclean-energyUS-Department-of-Energymodular-reactorsnuclear-power-plantsUS 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-independenceUS firm's prototype induction pump tech to make nuclear reactors safer
NANO Nuclear Energy, a New York-based firm, has developed a prototype Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) designed to improve thermal management in advanced nuclear reactors, particularly molten salt and liquid-metal reactors. Unlike traditional mechanical pumps, ALIP uses a time-varying magnetic field to move conductive fluids without mechanical components, which reduces wear, maintenance, and increases efficiency. The company has successfully integrated the ALIP technology into a controllable test loop at its Demonstration Facility in Westchester County, New York, marking a significant milestone in validating the pump’s design and performance. The development of ALIP is part of NANO Nuclear’s broader efforts to advance next-generation nuclear reactor technologies, with plans to begin commercial sales by late 2025 or early 2026. Current work focuses on refining the prototype, collecting manufacturing and performance data, and testing the pump with various fluids and failure scenarios. Collaboration with aRobotics Company has supported the fabrication and testing processes under the SBIR Phase III
energynuclear-energyinduction-pumpmolten-salt-reactorelectromagnetic-pumpthermal-managementadvanced-reactors4th-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-efficiencyUS uses high-precision 3D printing for Gen IV nuclear reactor parts
The United States is pioneering the use of high-precision 3D printing to create polymer forms for concrete components in advanced nuclear reactors, marking a shift away from traditional steel or wood molds. At Kairos Power’s Oak Ridge campus in Tennessee, these 3D-printed molds are being employed for the Janus shielding demonstration, a test precursor to building parts of the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor. Hermes is notable as the first advanced reactor to receive a construction permit from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The printed forms, each about 10 feet square and stacked three high, are used to cast the reactor’s bioshield—a thick concrete structure designed to absorb radiation and protect workers during operation. This additive manufacturing approach offers a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative to conventional methods, enabling the construction of complex geometries with high structural integrity under the pressure of wet concrete. The project, a collaboration involving Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Kairos Power, and the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (
energynuclear-energy3D-printingadditive-manufacturingadvanced-reactorsconstruction-technologymaterials-engineeringSam Altman’s next-gen nuclear plant picks builder, eyes 2027 debut
Oklo, a nuclear energy company backed by Sam Altman, has selected Kiewit Nuclear Solutions as the lead constructor for its first commercial Aurora nuclear power plant at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The 75-megawatt advanced microreactor project, named Aurora-INL, aims to begin pre-construction in 2025 with commercial operations targeted for late 2027 to early 2028. Oklo secured access to its preferred site at Idaho Falls earlier in 2025 and has completed key site characterization work, including borehole drilling and preparations for a potential commercial radioisotope production facility at INL. Kiewit was chosen through a competitive process for its technical capabilities and experience in large-scale industrial construction, which complements the largely non-nuclear components of the Aurora plant. Oklo’s CEO Jacob DeWitte emphasized that Kiewit’s expertise is critical for efficient project delivery, cost reduction, and maintaining safety and quality standards. The Aurora reactor features a modular design,
energynuclear-poweradvanced-reactorsclean-energymicroreactorenergy-infrastructureenergy-technologyUS fast-tracks nuclear reactor testing to catch up with China’s boom
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a pilot program to accelerate the testing and commercial licensing of advanced nuclear reactors, aiming to catch up with China’s rapid nuclear energy expansion. This initiative, authorized under President Donald Trump’s executive order on reforming nuclear reactor testing, allows private companies to construct and operate test reactors outside national laboratories. The program seeks to streamline development by requiring applicants to demonstrate technological readiness, financial viability, and a plan to achieve reactor criticality by July 4, 2026. Selected companies will bear all costs related to design, construction, operation, and decommissioning, with applications due by July 21, 2025. This move is part of a broader effort to boost American innovation in nuclear technology, enhance economic growth, and strengthen national security. It builds on existing DOE and Department of Defense projects involving microreactors and advanced reactor demonstrations. The urgency stems from China’s aggressive nuclear expansion, which includes 102 reactors operating, under construction, or approved
energynuclear-energyadvanced-reactorsDOEnuclear-reactor-testingenergy-policyclean-energyNew nuclear fuel in US blends thorium, uranium to cut waste, cost
US scientists at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), in partnership with Clean Core Thorium Energy and Texas A&M University, have developed and tested a novel nuclear fuel called ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life). This fuel blends thorium with high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), enriched between 5% and 20% uranium-235, aiming to reduce nuclear waste, enhance reactor safety, and lower operational costs. Unlike typical fuels used in pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) that contain less than 0.72% uranium-235, ANEEL’s design is proliferation-resistant and can be used in existing PHWRs without requiring reactor or fuel bundle modifications. The ANEEL fuel pellets, fabricated with a proprietary thorium-uranium oxide blend featuring an annular shape for gas management, underwent months of irradiation testing at INL’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). Initial post-irradiation examinations revealed that the fuel maintained its structural
energynuclear-fuelthoriumuraniumadvanced-reactorsnuclear-waste-reductionreactor-safetyGoogle backs 1800 MW nuclear power for data centers in US push
nuclear-energydata-centersenergy-demandadvanced-reactorsGoogleElementlsite-developmentCông ty Mỹ tuyên bố khai thác helium-3 trên Mặt Trăng
robotenergyhelium-3lunar-miningspace-resourcesadvanced-reactorsquantum-computingCông ty Mỹ khai thác helium-3 trên Mặt Trăng
robotenergyhelium-3lunar-miningspace-resourcesadvanced-reactorsquantum-technologyGoogle inks deal to develop 1.8 GW of advanced nuclear power
energynuclear-poweradvanced-reactorsdata-centersrenewable-energysmall-modular-reactorspower-generation