All articles tagged with #small modular reactors
Three DOE-backed microreactors have reached criticality—Unity by Deployable Energy, plus Antares and Valar Atomics—marking a milestone in demonstrating compact reactors for powering data centers and other high-demand loads; however, experts say criticality is only an early step and scaling, HALEU fuel supply, financing, and NRC licensing remain major hurdles before any commercial deployment.
Three startups in the DOE’s pilot program have turned on new reactors and reached criticality, a milestone meant to jump‑start a new wave of small modular reactors and carbon‑free power. While the speed is aided by regulatory cuts and lab support, experts caution these are test reactors, not commercial products, and licensing, fuel supply, and cost hurdles still loom before any grid deployment—despite Valar Atomics’ criticality demonstrations (even powering an Nvidia chip) and other pilots aiming to be critical soon, including Antares Nuclear and Deployable Energy; Aalo Atomics has yet to hit criticality.
Three U.S. advanced reactors backed by the Energy Department have reached criticality, meeting a July 4 target and signaling progress toward a nuclear renaissance, with Deployable Energy’s unit the third to go critical and Aalo Atomics expected to follow. While DOE touts momentum and the potential for quicker development, experts say commercial deployment could still take years due to licensing by the NRC, fuel supply challenges (HALEU), and financing hurdles, though a proposed rule could speed up regulatory reviews for approved designs.
The United States dominates the global race to develop small modular reactors (SMRs), with 28 siting announcements in 2026—more than the next four countries combined (Canada 9, the United Kingdom 7, Russia 5, and China 4). The Nuclear Energy Agency tracks 129 SMR designs, but only 78 are publicly reported in its dashboard. SMRs, up to 300 MWe and manufactured modularly, promise cheaper, flexible clean power suitable for remote sites or data centers and are increasingly seen as important for grid reliability and energy security as power demand grows.
The Trump administration plans to give several private nuclear start-ups access to about 99 tons of Cold War–era plutonium to be repurposed as fuel for small modular reactors, aiming to spur nuclear energy and reduce reliance on Russian uranium. Critics warn this raises proliferation and security risks, questions feasibility and cost, and could send a counterproductive signal on disarmament, with concerns about safety, handling, and potential conflicts of interest.
The Energy Department has named five private companies, including Oklo, to begin negotiations under its Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program to repurpose weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for next-generation small modular reactors. The move could unlock private funding and expand domestic nuclear fuel supplies, but critics warn it raises proliferation risks and could set a precedent for civilian use of weapons-grade material; negotiations are not yet finalized.
The Energy Department selected eight U.S. companies to receive over $94 million in cost-shared funding to accelerate near-term deployment of advanced Gen III+ small modular reactors, backing site selection/permits, supply-chain upgrades, and manufacturing capacity to position the United States for 2030s deployments under President Trump's nuclear-energy agenda.
The European Commission endorses deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) by the early 2030s as part of Europe’s aim for climate neutrality by 2050, with streamlined approval processes and a €200 million guarantee to attract private investment, hoping to supply low‑carbon electricity and heat for industry and enhance grid stability, while critics warn of costs, safety risks, and the unproven nature of SMRs.
The United States and Hungary formalized a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that will expand collaboration on civil nuclear energy, including small modular reactors and spent fuel management, with Hungary set to purchase U.S. nuclear fuel and Holtec International assisting on spent fuel; the pact diversifies Hungary’s energy away from Russia and strengthens U.S. influence in Europe ahead of elections, reflecting the close ties between Viktor Orbán and former President Donald Trump.
X-Energy, backed by Amazon, just won the first U.S. nuclear fuel license in more than 50 years, allowing enriched-uranium fuel production at two Tennessee facilities for the next 40 years with production slated to begin in 2028; the license supports Amazon’s plan to power AI data centers with carbon-free nuclear energy and comes alongside a $500 million Amazon investment in X-Energy for SMR development.
Argentina’s Milei government is pushing a new nuclear strategy that restart uranium mining in Chubut, advance small modular reactors, and privatize part of the state utility, while courting uranium exports to the United States—a plan drawing ire from Indigenous communities, scientists, and environmentalists who warn it could undermine domestic energy needs, worsen environmental harm, and increase US influence in Patagonian resources.
Hoosier Energy warns of a serious regional power supply emergency in central/southern Indiana and parts of Illinois and urges immediate voluntary electricity conservation (turn off unnecessary lights, delay major appliances, set thermostats to 68°F or lower, and lower water heater settings) while state officials consider small modular reactors to meet growing demand.
Nature highlights seven technologies set to shape 2026, from xenotransplantation using CRISPR-edited animal organs to reduce immune rejection, to AI-powered weather forecasting and climate modelling, a renewed push in next-generation nuclear power including small modular reactors and fusion, and advances in light-microscopy brain mapping alongside a massive Vera C. Rubin Observatory sky survey that will catalog billions of celestial objects over a decade—portending gains in medicine, energy, climate science, neuroscience, and astronomy.
Duke Energy has submitted an early site permit application to the NRC for a potential new nuclear site near Belews Creek in North Carolina, exploring small modular reactor technologies to meet future energy needs while reducing risks and costs, with plans to add 600 MW of nuclear capacity by 2037 if the project proceeds.
Ontario and New York have signed an agreement to collaborate on developing nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, to meet increasing energy demands, enhance reliability, and promote decarbonization, with a focus on technological innovation, trade, and workforce development.