NRC Initiates Pre-Application Review of Terra Innovatum's SOLO Construction Permit Application

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has initiated the first phase of its readiness review of selected materials from the proposed construction permit application (CPA) for the SOLO micro modular reactor submitted by Terra Innovatum Global NV. This review is a limited-scope pre-application assessment designed to help the applicant identify potential information gaps, technical issues, or policy concerns early in the process.

According to the schedule published by the NRC, Terra Innovatum requested a two-phase readiness review of its proposed construction permit application on July 20, 2026. The NRC subsequently developed a review plan, and the first phase began on August 10, 2026, through a kickoff meeting, with an expected duration of approximately six weeks.

The first phase of the review covers the environmental report prepared by Terra Innovatum in accordance with Title 10, Part 51 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as nine chapters of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR), covering facility description, site characteristics, portions of the reactor description, engineering safety features, radiation protection and waste management, financial qualifications, other licensing matters, decommissioning and license-only amendments, and the conversion from high-enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium.

The NRC has assembled a multidisciplinary review team to participate in this assessment, with members drawn from areas including advanced reactor licensing, reactor science, reactor engineering, environmental review, and financial assessment. This process enables NRC staff to become familiar with portions of the draft application materials prior to formal submission and to provide feedback to the applicant on items requiring supplementation or clarification.

Cesare Frepoli, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs at Terra Innovatum, stated that initiating the readiness review is an important step in advancing the SOLO project into the U.S. regulatory process. The first phase covers key materials related to safety, environment, reactor design, and licensing, which will help the company address potential issues before formal submission and enhance the quality of the construction permit application.

According to available information, the NRC and Terra Innovatum have conducted multiple pre-application engagements on this project since 2025, including public meetings and the submission of white papers and topical reports across various technical and project areas. Following the completion of the first phase, NRC staff plan to hold a summary meeting with Terra Innovatum and issue a public report within 45 calendar days outlining the review observations and feedback. The NRC also plans to issue a separate review plan for the relevant application materials prior to the start of the second phase.

The NRC emphasized that the readiness review is a pre-application activity and is independent of the formal acceptance review process. This review does not constitute NRC approval of the SOLO design or any future construction permit application, nor does it predetermine whether a future application will be accepted for review or how it will be reviewed once accepted.

Terra Innovatum stated that SOLO is a micro modular reactor design with a rated deployment power of 1 MW per unit, capable of providing electricity and thermal energy to data centers, remote microgrids, and industrial applications such as cement, oil and gas, steel, and mining. The company also noted that the reactor platform can accommodate both low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel options and can scale up energy supply through modular deployment.