Doosan Enerbility Secures Manufacturing Contract for Key Equipment for TerraPower's Small Modular Reactor

Doosan Enerbility announced on August 14 that it has signed a manufacturing contract with TerraPower to produce key equipment for the latter's Natrium advanced reactor project. TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, is one of the advanced nuclear energy technology companies in the United States.

Under the contract, Doosan Enerbility will be responsible for manufacturing key components required for the Natrium reactor, including the reactor protection vessel, reactor support structures, and reactor internal structures. The two parties have previously collaborated. In December 2024, Doosan Enerbility and TerraPower signed a manufacturability review contract for key equipment for the first unit of the initial small modular reactor, and have been advancing follow-up cooperation on design optimization and other efforts.

TerraPower's first nuclear power project is located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States, and will feature a 345 MW advanced reactor. The project is regarded as one of the next-generation nuclear power projects in the United States to enter the commercial-scale construction phase at an early stage, and is also a significant project for the commercialization of advanced reactor technology. Construction of the project commenced this spring after receiving a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

TerraPower holds the design technology for sodium-cooled fast reactors. Sodium-cooled fast reactors belong to the Generation IV reactor category and use liquid sodium as a coolant to remove heat generated by nuclear fission. Unlike traditional light-water reactors, these reactors do not use water as a coolant and do not rely on moderators; instead, they utilize fast neutrons to sustain the fission reaction.

The Natrium reactor design combines a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt energy storage system, enabling the output to be boosted to 500 MW when necessary. TerraPower is currently seeking to advance more nuclear power projects in the United States and other markets.

Kim Jong-doo, President of Doosan Enerbility's Nuclear Power Business Group, stated that this manufacturing contract builds on years of collaboration and mutual trust between the two parties. Doosan Enerbility will advance project execution while enhancing its small modular reactor manufacturing capabilities and expanding its role in the global supply chain.