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Russia's Smolensk NPP begins loading improved nuclear fuel

On September 1, 2026, local time, Unit 1 of Russia's Smolensk Nuclear Power Plant began gradually loading improved nuclear fuel. The fuel assemblies feature adjusted uranium-235 enrichment and erbium oxide content, as part of the RBMK-1000 reactor modernization program aimed at enhancing unit operational safety and efficiency. The Smolensk NPP is part of the electric power division of Rosatom and is operated by Rosenergoatom. The fuel assemblies loaded into the core this time use lower uranium-235 enrichment and lower erbium oxide content. According to relevant calculations, the new fuel can compensate for changes in core neutronics parameters following graphite stack repair...

2026-09-02

U.S. Plans to Build Second Uranium Conversion Plant

Raven-Flint Nuclear Corporation announced on August 31 that it has been selected for the Nuclear Energy Startup Platform project advanced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and plans to build a pilot uranium conversion facility named "Torch" at INL. The company stated that the Torch facility aims to become the second uranium conversion plant in the United States, with a designed annual processing capacity of 500 metric tons of uranium, capable of converting uranium into uranium hexafluoride (UF6). According to the company, this scale can meet the fuel demand of two large nuclear reactors. Upon project completion, it is intended to serve the U.S. Department of Energy and its affiliated agencies, and may provide domestically produced uranium hexafluoride for specific needs.

2026-09-02

New Hampshire Advances Nuclear Power and Small Modular Reactor Roadmap

The U.S. state of New Hampshire is making the expansion of nuclear power a priority in its next phase of electricity policy. The state government is developing an advanced nuclear energy roadmap, expected to cover the utilization of existing nuclear resources, construction of advanced nuclear plants, and potential deployment scenarios for small modular reactors (SMRs), with a preliminary plan slated for release in September. Governor Kelly Ayotte has directed the state's energy department to advance the roadmap's development. The state is currently soliciting input from utilities, consumer representatives, and energy industry stakeholders to assess nuclear power's role in addressing rising electricity demand and high electricity prices. New England...

2026-09-02

Changwon National University and Doosan Enerbility Conduct On-Site Training on Nuclear Power Main Equipment Design

The AI-based Next-Generation Nuclear Power Equipment and Components Manufacturing Innovation Research Center (AI-NMIC) at Changwon National University, together with the Regional Innovation Alliance Center for Medium-Sized Enterprises, recently completed on-site training on nuclear power main equipment design. The training was held for students participating in related projects at Doosan Enerbility's site. According to Changwon National University on August 31, the training lasted five days, totaling 30 hours, and was designed to help students acquire professional knowledge related to the design and manufacturing of key nuclear power equipment, as well as to understand the design, manufacturing processes, and practical application scenarios of nuclear power equipment through on-site corporate instruction. The tra...

2026-09-02

South Korea Plans to Increase R&D Investment in Nuclear Fusion and Small Modular Reactors

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) stated on September 1 that in the 2027 government budget proposal approved at a Cabinet meeting, the ministry's budget amounts to 29.6476 trillion Korean won, an increase of 24.5% compared to this year's supplementary budget. Of this, the R&D budget is planned to increase from 11.9 trillion won this year to 14.1 trillion won, accounting for 36% of the South Korean government's total R&D budget. In the science and technology sector, MSIT plans to invest 12.377 trillion won in R&D related to next-generation artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. In explaining the budget proposal, the ministry's First Vice Minister stated that in response to the growing electricity demand driven by AI development, South Korea will accelerate the development of future clean energy sources such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion...

2026-09-02

South Korea's Uljin Pushes Forward with Nuclear Hydrogen Industrial Complex Development

Uljin County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, is seeking support from the National Assembly and the government to promote the construction of the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex, with the goal of establishing the region as a clean hydrogen production hub through supporting policies such as stable power supply and hydrogen pipeline networks. On August 31, Uljin County Governor Hwang Ui-jo attended a nuclear hydrogen policy seminar held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to present the progress of the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and the policy tasks required for developing the nuclear hydrogen industry. The seminar was hosted by the National Assembly Hydrogen Economy Forum, with participants from the National Assembly, government, local governments, industry, academia, and...

2026-09-02

Blykalla Establishes Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology Center in Austin

Advanced nuclear technology company Blykalla announced it will establish a new technology center in Austin, Texas, to expand its engineering and reactor R&D operations in the United States. Located at 801 Barton Springs Road in Austin, the center will house engineering and reactor development teams to strengthen the company's local operations and advance collaboration with its U.S. partners, regulators, and stakeholders in the clean energy industry. Blykalla stated that the Austin technology center will serve as its U.S. hub for engineering and advanced nuclear reactor R&D. The company currently operates two complementary business centers in the U.S.—Austin and New York: Austin focuses on technology R&D and engineering...

2026-09-02

US Antares to Apply Racing Power Electronics to Microreactors

Antares, a US nuclear fission energy company, recently announced a partnership with UK technology supplier Motion Applied to deploy the latter's race-proven power electronics in its microreactor power conversion system. According to Antares, Motion Applied has long served motorsport and other demanding applications, accumulating expertise in high-performance electronics and electrification technologies. This collaboration will enable Antares to use more mature, production-grade hardware in its microreactor program, reducing the time and cost associated with developing dedicated power conversion equipment from scratch. Antares Chief Nuclear Officer Ri...

2026-09-02

US OSC Global and InfraShield Launch Advanced Reactor Cybersecurity Program

OSC Global and InfraShield recently announced the joint launch of the Janus Cyber program to provide cybersecurity support for developers planning to deploy advanced reactors at US military installations. The program will deliver integrated services covering nuclear regulation, US Department of War (DoW) authorization, and operational technology/industrial control system (OT/ICS) cybersecurity requirements. The two companies stated that advanced reactors operating in US military environments must simultaneously meet multiple requirements, including nuclear-sector cybersecurity regulation, military authorization, and industrial control system protection. Janus Cyber will coordinate...

2026-09-02

Amentum Selected for UK Grid Upgrade and Protection Projects

Amentum has announced that it has been selected by SSEN Transmission to undertake strategic roles under two UK energy framework agreements, providing digital and cybersecurity engineering services for UK grid upgrades. Under the arrangements, Amentum will serve as the sole supplier of high-end cybersecurity engineering services, contributing to the digitalization and security capability enhancement of the UK power grid. The services will focus on critical asset protection, digital capability expansion, operational data application, and security architecture development for grid operations. SSEN Transmission is the owner of the high-voltage transmission system in northern Scotland...

2026-09-02

Canadian Indigenous-led Transportable Nuclear Power Plant Project Planned for Early 2030s Operation

Pabineau First Nation, Eel River Bar First Nation, and Prodigy Clean Energy recently announced that they will advance an Indigenous-led new nuclear power project in Belledune, New Brunswick, Canada. Under the relevant exclusive agreements, the parties plan to deploy a full-size transportable nuclear power plant (TNPP) with a capacity of up to 50 megawatts within the traditional territories of Pabineau First Nation and Eel River Bar First Nation. The pilot project, intended to be owned by the First Nations, is primarily aimed at validating the logistics organization and op...

2026-09-02

NuScale Completes First Manufacturing of Boron Carbide Pellets for SMR Safety Component in the U.S.

NuScale Power and MillenniTEK recently announced that they have successfully manufactured the first batch of boron carbide pellets for NuScale's passive emergency core cooling system (ECCS). This component will be used in NuScale's small modular reactor (SMR) technology and is one of the dedicated components in its reactor safety system. According to reports, in nuclear power plants employing NuScale technology, when the emergency core cooling system is activated, the boron carbide pellets dissolve into the reactor coolant, helping to control and maintain core reactivity at safe levels without operator intervention. This manufacturing effort is considered a key advancement in NuScale's preparation for commercial deployment, involving the validation of dedicated safety components and associated manufacturing processes.

2026-09-02

Lightbridge Multi-Zone Fuel Element Granted Japanese Patent, Covering Fuel Assemblies and 3D Printing Manufacturing Methods

Advanced nuclear fuel technology company Lightbridge Corporation recently announced that its Japanese patent application for a multi-zone fuel element has been granted by the Japan Patent Office. The patent covers the fuel element design, fuel assemblies incorporating the design, and methods of producing the element via additive manufacturing, i.e., 3D printing. According to the disclosure, the patent involves a fuel rod composed of three layers of different materials. The thickness of the three layers can vary along the length of the fuel rod, thereby regulating fuel performance at different positions in the reactor to enhance reactor operating performance and safety margins. In addition to the fuel rod itself, the patent also covers fuel assemblies for mounting these fuel rods.

2026-09-02

NewHydrogen Files Third Patent Application for ThermoLoop Hydrogen Production Technology

NewHydrogen, Inc. recently announced that it has filed a third provisional patent application jointly with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) to protect developments related to its clean hydrogen production technology, ThermoLoop. The patent application is titled "Isothermal Chemical Looping Hydrogen Production." According to NewHydrogen, the application builds on two previous patents and covers the latest improvements to the ThermoLoop thermochemical water-splitting process, as well as novel material compositions discovered by the UCSB technical team. The process produces hydrogen by splitting water using thermal energy, combined with advanced solid-state materials and machine learning-driven materials discovery methods to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness...

2026-09-02

South Korea's 2027 Budget Proposal Includes First-Ever Funding for Domestic Nuclear Submarine Development

The South Korean government approved its 2027 budget proposal, with total government spending reaching 820.9 trillion won, approximately 95.6 trillion yen, marking a 12.8% increase from the previous year and setting a record high. The budget proposal has been submitted to the National Assembly for review. President Lee Jae-myung presided over a cabinet meeting at the presidential office on September 1, where the budget proposal was reviewed and approved. Under the plan, the South Korean government intends to increase investment in growth-oriented industries, with approximately 2.5 trillion yen allocated to infrastructure development related to semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence, nearly doubling the scale of the previous year. On the revenue side, the South Korean government expects that as AI demand continues to grow and major semiconductor companies see improved performance, corporate income tax and personal income tax revenues will increase significantly.

2026-09-02