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NRC Approves X-energy's First Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
· Confirmed
In Short: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has given X-energy the green light to construct its first small modular nuclear reactors, a significant step toward reviving the United States' high-temperature gas-cooled reactor efforts.
Seal of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
According to Canary Media, the NRC approved the environmental review for X-energy's first project, which will see the company build four of its 80-megawatt Xe-100 reactors at Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations in Texas.
TechCrunch reported that X-energy announced Monday it had received the go-ahead from federal officials to build its first four commercial reactors, each capable of generating 80 megawatts of electricity and 200 megawatts of heat.
X-energy said the architecture supports siting close to industrial facilities and envisions an emergency planning zone of 400 meters, reflecting the company's design assumptions.
In addition to the Texas project, X-energy is also developing a larger, 330-megawatt project at Colorado’s Fort St. Vrain nuclear plant.
The deal supports more than $3 billion in infrastructure investment at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Maryland, including upgrades adding 190 megawatts of generating capacity between 2030 and 2032.
X-energy's April initial public offering raised $1 billion, riding a wave of excitement for small modular nuclear reactors.
X-energy's plans align with broader trends in the nuclear industry, such as Constellation Energy's $4.3 billion investment to refurbish and improve 11 reactors at six plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
The NRC's approval marks a significant milestone for X-energy, paving the way for the company to build its first commercial reactors and potentially reshape the U.S. Nuclear landscape.
What this adds
The NRC's approval of X-energy's environmental review and construction permit represents a major step forward for the company's small modular reactor projects. This approval is consistent with prior WarpBeat coverage, which noted the NRC's initial green light for X-energy's reactors.
Background
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has given X-energy the green light to construct its first small modular nuclear reactors.
What's confirmed
- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the construction permit application for four of X-energy’s Xe-100 reactors at a Dow chemical plant in Texas.
What's still developing
- X-energy, the Amazon-backed nuclear startup looking to revive the United States’ high-temperature gas-cooled reactor efforts, just took a major step toward securing federal permits to start construction on its debut plant.
- Rolls Royce said Pioneer Works would open later this year Rolls-Royce has announced plans to open a £12m facility in Derby which would act as a "training centre" to help its future workforce build nuclear power plants.
- The Sunday statements did not say how many reactors needed cooling or whether the plant had restored its connection by the time of publication.
- So, some U.S. companies are looking to get more electricity out of reactors that already exist.
- Partner X-energy has not built a single working reactor yet To feed its Indiana datacenters with plenty of juice, Amazon is funding the development of a new nuclear facility that will provide nearly 1 gigawatt of power.
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