Advanced Nuclear & SMRs

A Congressional panel will hear from a panel of experts testifying on nuclear fusion research Thursday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. The House Science Subcommittee on Energy is scheduled to address “Igniting America’s Energy Future: The Promise and Progress of Fusion Power”. Witnesses scheduled to testify are Oak Ridge […]

The United States will “take no shortcuts on safety” when it comes to accelerated deployment of new U.S. nuclear technology, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday at the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. “We want the world to know that when you engage in civil nuclear cooperation with the […]

Nuclear energy deals are expected this week between the United States and the United Kingdom during President Donald Trump’s visit to the UK that could stimulate a “golden age” of nuclear power, the countries said.  Trump departed Tuesday morning for the UK, according to the official White House schedule. The agreements between the UK and […]

TerraPower and KBR have agreed to cooperate in seeking potential deployment of an advanced nuclear reactor in the United Kingdom. The two companies will jointly perform studies and evaluate potential sites for development of TerraPower’s Natrium reactor and energy storage system, according to TerraPower’s Monday press release. A Natrium reactor is a 345-megawatt sodium fast […]

Holtec International, EDF UK and Tritax Management have agreed to collaborate to deploy a data center and small modular reactor at a retired coal site in Nottinghamshire, England. According to a joint press release, the three companies intend to formalize their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding. The three companies intend to develop a one […]

Deep Fission has raised $30 million in private funding to finance the deployment of its underground advanced nuclear reactor, the company announced Monday. The funding comes weeks after Berkeley, Calif.-based nuclear technology developer was named as one of the 10 companies selected for the Department of Energy’s reactor pilot program. The DOE program aims to […]

The Department of Energy this week announced $134 million in funding towards two fusion energy-based technology programs. DOE has allocated $128 million towards Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) collaboratives, according to the Wednesday press release. It also allocated $6.1 million for the Innovative Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program. Nuclear fusion is a source of […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a report published Sep. 5, gave two recommendations for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to meet its goal to upgrade and repair its fusion facilities. The goal, the report said, is to meet a 10-year plan NNSA submitted to Congress in January 2023, requesting $492 million over six […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has agreed to review the first two parts of Fermi America’s combined license application. The application contained sufficient design information for a license to construct four Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at the proposed site in Amarillo, Texas, according to NRC’s Monday press release. NRC said it does not anticipate any safety concerns […]

An amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act by an Arizona Republican would require a study into the idea of siting small modular reactors (SMRs) at defense installations. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has proposed an amendment, adopted by voice vote on the House floor, directing the secretary of defense to do […]

Deep Fission has raised $30 million in private funding to finance the deployment of its underground advanced nuclear reactor, the company announced Monday. The funding comes weeks after Berkeley, Calif.-based nuclear technology developer was named as one of the 10 companies selected for the Department of Energy’s reactor pilot program. The DOE program aims to […]

An amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act by an Arizona Republican would require a study into the idea of siting small modular reactors (SMRs) at defense installations. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has proposed an amendment, adopted by voice vote on the House floor, directing the secretary of defense to do […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has agreed to review the first two parts of Fermi America’s combined license application. The application contained sufficient design information for a license to construct four Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at the proposed site in Amarillo, Texas, according to NRC’s Monday press release. NRC said it does not anticipate any safety concerns […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a report published Sep. 5, gave two recommendations for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to meet its goal to upgrade and repair its fusion facilities. The goal, the report said, is to meet a 10-year plan NNSA submitted to Congress in January 2023, requesting $492 million over six […]

Oklo announced Thursday it will build and operate a $1.68 billion nuclear fuel recycling facility that could employ 800 people at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee.  The fuel facility is the first phase of an advanced fuel center supporting recycling and fuel fabrication, according to Oklo’s Thursday press release. The facility […]

Aalo Atomics announced it has broken ground for its experimental reactor in Idaho near the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The Austin, Texas-based startup nuclear company was selected as one of the 11 projects under DOE’s reactor pilot program and plans to reach by July 4, 2026, according to Aalo’s Aug. 28 press release. […]

BWX Technologies and Kairos Power have agreed to work together to explore commercial production of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel to supply Kairos and other customers. Under the agreement, the joint team will explore opportunities to use Kairos’s TRISO Development Lab at its Albuquerque, N.M. campus, BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Va. and BWXT’s existing TRISO […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority and ENTRA 1 Energy have entered into an agreement to deploy new nuclear generation in the southeast. Under the agreement, ENTRA1 will develop up to 6 gigawatts or 6,000 megawatts of new nuclear energy to TVA’s seven-state region by deploying six ENTRA1 Energy plants, according to TVA’s Tuesday press release. ENTRA1 […]

BWX Technologies and Kairos Power have agreed to work together to explore commercial production of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel to supply Kairos and other customers. Under the agreement, the joint team will explore opportunities to use Kairos’ TRISO Development Lab at its Albuquerque, N.M. campus, BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Va. and BWXT’s existing TRISO […]

Oklo announced Thursday it will build and operate a $1.68 billion nuclear fuel recycling facility that could employ 800 people at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site in Tennessee.  The fuel facility is the first phase of an advanced fuel center supporting recycling and fuel fabrication, according to Oklo’s Thursday press release. The facility […]

BWX Technologies and Kairos Power have agreed to work together to explore commercial production of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel to supply Kairos and other customers. Under the agreement, the joint team will explore opportunities to use Kairos’s TRISO Development Lab at its Albuquerque, N.M. campus, BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Va. and BWXT’s existing TRISO […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority and ENTRA 1 Energy have entered into an agreement to deploy new nuclear generation in the southeast. Under the agreement, ENTRA1 will deploy up to 6 gigawatts or 6,000 megawatts of new nuclear energy to TVA’s seven-state region by deploying six ENTRA1 Energy plants, according to TVA’s Tuesday press release. ENTRA1 […]

Aalo Atomics announced it has broken ground for its experimental reactor in Idaho near the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The Austin, Texas-based startup nuclear company was selected as one of the 11 projects under DOE’s reactor pilot program and plans to reach by July 4, 2026, according to Aalo’s Aug. 28 press release. […]

WASHINGTON, DC — Nuclear energy is being pushed by the Donald Trump administration, but the effort needs a strong workforce and policy behind it, authors of a new report said here Wednesday.  The working group held a panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.  to discuss the report “How America Can Achieve […]

The Department of Energy has announced the three companies it has conditionally agreed to provide the second round of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) allocation for advanced nuclear projects. The three companies awarded are: Antares Nuclear (based in California) Standard Nuclear (based in Oak Ridge, Tenn.) Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources (based in Texas) Antares Nuclear will […]

Fermi America and Westinghouse will team up on deployment of four Westinghouse AP1000 units at Fermi’s proposed hyperscale data centers campus in Amarillo, Texas. “Partnering with Westinghouse, the global leader behind the fully licensed AP1000 design, marks a critical milestone in our project execution,” Fermi America chief nuclear construction officer Mesut Uzman said in Westinghouse’s […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the design certification for Westinghouse’s AP1000 large reactor until 2046, Westinghouse announced on Aug. 26. NRC issued a final rule changing the durations of its design certifications, a regulatory approval of a complete nuclear power plant design, from 15 to 40 years.  Westinghouse’s AP1000, currently the only operating generation […]

X-Energy has entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power and Doosan to speed deployment of small modular reactors to meet growing data center demands in the United States. The Rockville, Md. based advanced nuclear company announced the four-company collaboration in its Monday press release. KHNP is the primary South Korean […]

BWX Technologies has formed a new subsidiary, BWXT Advanced Fuels, dedicated to the commercialization of advanced nuclear fuel, the company announced Aug. 21. The new subsidiary will pursue partnerships to deliver commercial nuclear fuel for upcoming advanced nuclear reactors, BWXT said in its Aug. 21 press release. BWXT Advanced Fuels will focus on guaranteeing the […]

The Department of Energy has announced the three companies it has conditionally agreed to provide the second round of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) allocation for advanced nuclear projects. The three companies awarded are: Antares Nuclear (based in California) Standard Nuclear (based in Oak Ridge, Tenn.) Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources (based in Texas) Antares Nuclear will […]