Two UK nuclear companies sign memorandum of understanding to jointly develop nuclear microreactor

Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) and Cambridge Atomworks have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which the two parties will engage in deep collaboration on a UK-built nuclear microreactor.

Cambridge Atomworks is an ambitious and vibrant nuclear engineering startup whose core goal is to build a nuclear microreactor in the UK for off-grid applications. The signing of this memorandum of understanding marks that the two companies will jointly explore how to maximize CVE's deep expertise in electron beam welding, including the company's Ebflow technology, which has been proven to significantly accelerate the production process of key nuclear power components such as reactor vessels.

As Cambridge Atomworks continues to advance the development of micro-scale, mobile nuclear fission reactors, the collaboration will focus on the off-grid application market, providing stable and reliable power to areas that have difficulty accessing conventional power grids. The two parties are expected to focus on how to use electron beam welding technology to achieve efficient manufacturing of key nuclear reactor components, thereby taking a solid step toward the implementation of the entire project.

Cambridge Atomworks' planned ODIN reactor is expected to produce an operational prototype by 2031, and the company hopes to become a trusted global supplier of clean, sustainable energy by the mid-2030s, serving various off-grid customers. The ODIN low-pressure reactor uses solid nuclear fuel and molten salt as a coolant, and is specifically designed as a mobile, self-contained power system that can be deployed with low infrastructure investment.