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Lightbridge Approved to Conduct Advanced Nuclear Fuel Irradiation Testing at Idaho National Laboratory

On September 9, Lightbridge Corporation (Lightbridge, Nasdaq: LTBR), a developer of advanced nuclear fuel technology, announced that it has completed the signing of Project Task Statement No. 2 (PTS No. 2) under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the operating contractor of Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Under this task statement, Lightbridge will gain access to the loop test facility of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory to conduct irradiation testing of Lightbridge Fuel™ cladded fuel rods. The loop...

2026-09-10

UK think tank calls for clear nuclear reactor technology roadmap to support nuclear expansion

On September 8, 2026, UK think tank Policy Exchange released a white paper stating that the UK government needs to more clearly articulate which nuclear reactor technologies it will rely on to advance the so-called nuclear golden age, and to strengthen the supply chain and achieve economies of scale through batch construction. Policy Exchange's Nuclear Enterprise Committee is composed of experts from government, industry, and academia. The committee believes that the UK's civil nuclear strategy is at a critical stage, and related decisions will affect the country's energy system for decades to come. The white paper points out that given that new small modular reactor technologies are still in the early stages of development, the UK government should retain the option of building another large-scale nuclear...

2026-09-09

U.S. Bluecore Energy Raises $50 Million to Advance Floating Small Modular Reactors

On September 8, 2026, U.S.-based Bluecore Energy announced the completion of a $50 million seed financing round to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of its floating nuclear energy systems. Bluecore Energy is developing small modular water-cooled reactors that can operate on floating barges, with target applications including ports, utilities, data centers, offshore infrastructure, and communities facing energy shortages. The round was led by Silverton Partners, with existing investor Slauson & Co continuing its participation, alongside Harlem Capital, Precursor Ventures, LMNT, Visible Hands VC, Karman Ventures, and others. Bluecore ...

2026-09-09

Thailand Advances SMR Regulatory Preparedness to Strengthen Energy Security

On September 8, 2026, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Yodchanan Wongsawat, chaired the second meeting of the Nuclear Energy for Peace Committee in 2026 at Government House. The meeting discussed Thailand's long-term nuclear energy strategy and preparatory work on the regulatory framework, talent development, and industrial supply chain for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The Thai government emphasized that these efforts constitute preliminary capacity building and do not imply a decision to construct nuclear power plants. The meeting approved an SMR regulatory policy framework, which draws on relevant standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)...

2026-09-09

Austria's Emerald Horizon and Netherlands' VDL Launch Construction of SMRX Small Modular Reactor High-Temperature Loop

On September 8, 2026, Emerald Horizon AG, headquartered in Graz, Austria, announced that it will partner with the Netherlands-based VDL Groep to commence construction of a megawatt-scale power loop for the SMRX small modular reactor in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Florian Wagner, founder and CEO of Emerald Horizon AG, and Markjan Vermeer, General Manager of Technology & Development at VDL ETG, have signed a joint memorandum on contract operations implementation at the Emerald LaboraTHorium laboratory in Graz. This also marks the first joint public appearance of the two parties in Austria. According to Emerald Horizon, SMRX is a modular subcritical thorium-based energy system. This initiative represents a significant step forward in the commercialization of the technology.

2026-09-09

UK Rolls-Royce SMR Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ABB on Small Modular Reactors

On September 8, 2026, ABB and Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (Rolls-Royce SMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on small modular reactor projects. Under the MoU, ABB will study how its automation, electrification, instrumentation, and communications solutions can be applied to the scaled deployment of related projects. Rolls-Royce SMR is developing standardized, factory-prefabricated small modular reactor technology aimed at reducing nuclear project risks, improving delivery certainty, and providing low-carbon electricity in global markets. The company plans to develop a fleet of units, each with an electrical output of 470 megawatts, capable of meeting the electricity needs of one million UK households...

2026-09-09

South Korea and France Agree to Deepen Nuclear Energy R&D and Nuclear Fuel Supply Cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 8. The two sides stated after the meeting that they would further expand cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, with a focus on nuclear energy R&D, nuclear fuel supply, next-generation reactor development, and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. Lee Jae-myung said at a joint press conference that the two countries had signed supplementary documents on cooperation in nuclear energy R&D and nuclear fuel supply to deepen the nuclear energy cooperation agreement reached between the two nations in April. Both sides confirmed that they would continue to advance cooperation in next-generation reactor development and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. According to related reports, the two countries also decided to establish a new...

2026-09-09

US ONE Nuclear Advances 1 GW SMR Project in Louisiana

ONE Nuclear Energy LLC (referred to as "ONE Nuclear") recently announced that its Amberjack small modular reactor (SMR) project in Louisiana, USA, has entered the technical and environmental assessment phase. The project is planned as a standalone, scalable multi-unit SMR campus targeting an advanced nuclear power generation capacity of up to approximately 1 GW. ONE Nuclear stated that the final installed capacity, reactor technology pathway, and plant configuration for the Amberjack project have not yet been determined and will depend on subsequent technology down-selection, detailed engineering design, environmental assessment, transmission studies, commercial arrangements, financing, and federal licensing processes. The company previously also announced...

2026-09-09

Türkiye partners with Danish company to develop thorium-based nuclear technology

Türkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources stated on September 7 that the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish nuclear technology developer Copenhagen Atomics to cooperate on developing next-generation nuclear energy technologies centered on Türkiye's thorium resources. According to the Turkish statement, the cooperation priorities include research and development of technologies that can utilize thorium, domestic production of thorium compounds in Türkiye, and promoting the participation of Turkish industrial enterprises, technology companies, and researchers in thorium-based nuclear technology development. The two sides will focus on thorium material preparation, research and development, and project design applicable to next-generation nuclear reactors, particularly molten salt reactors.

2026-09-08

Gyeongju City in South Korea Submits Key Requests to Government for Extension of Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant

Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, stated on September 7 that it has submitted five key pending matters to the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, covering nuclear power plants, support facilities for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal, and water supply guarantees for the Hyeongsan River basin. On the same day, Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young and National Assembly member Kim Seok-ki met with Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to explain the importance of the relevant projects to regional development and public welfare, and requested review and support at the central government level. Regarding support facilities for radioactive waste disposal...

2026-09-08

Türkiye says Russia interested in participating in new nuclear power projects

Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar recently stated that Russia has expressed interest in participating in Türkiye's new nuclear power plant projects, including the Sinop nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast and a nuclear power project in the northwestern Thrace region. South Korea, Canada, and China are also in contact with Türkiye regarding nuclear power cooperation. In an interview on September 6 local time, Bayraktar said Russia hopes to apply the experience and personnel accumulated during the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant to the Sinop and Thrace nuclear power projects. He stated that in addition to Russia, Türkiye is also in contact with Canada...

2026-09-08

UK's First TerraPower Natrium Reactor Could Generate Power by 2034

TerraPower, the US nuclear power company backed by Bill Gates, expects its Natrium sodium-cooled reactor could generate electricity in the UK as early as 2034. If the project progresses smoothly, the UK will become the company's first market for deploying this technology outside the United States. TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said that given the company's first Natrium reactor project is scheduled for completion in 2031, the Natrium technology is highly likely to become a reality in the UK by 2034. The technology has already met relevant US regulatory requirements, and the first unit is under construction in Wyoming. In recent years, the UK has accelerated the development of small modular re...

2026-09-08

Malaysia Evaluates Inclusion of Nuclear Power in Long-Term Energy Mix

Malaysia is steadily paving the way for the future introduction of nuclear energy into its energy mix. Although such plans are unlikely to materialize in the short term, policy assessments, regulatory preparations, talent development, and business model discussions surrounding civilian nuclear energy have noticeably accelerated. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently held a national workshop in Malaysia to introduce a human resource development model for the nuclear sector, aimed at helping the country forecast future staffing needs and support workforce planning required for nuclear technology applications. In March this year, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Fadillah Yusof stated that Malaysia has conducted a comprehensive assessment of a potential nuclear energy program, covering policy formulation, regulatory...

2026-09-07

Sweden receives sixth state aid application for new nuclear power

The Swedish government has recently received its sixth state aid application for the construction of new nuclear reactors. Swedish Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman stated that Nordic energy company Fortum's establishment of a project company in Sweden to advance new nuclear reactor plans demonstrates that Sweden's current state aid model has been carefully designed to accommodate project development needs. The application was submitted by NuCore Energi, a newly established project company under Fortum, with the project site located at Ävrö near the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant. Wykman has previously expressed repeated support for expanding nuclear energy in Sweden, believing that new nuclear power is of significant importance for long-term economic stability, industrial competitiveness, and climate goals.

2026-09-07

Türkiye continues negotiations with multiple countries on new nuclear power plants

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Türkiye's negotiations on new nuclear power plants have not yet been completed, and the country remains in contact with Russia, China, Canada, South Korea, and others, with no agreements signed for the relevant projects. Bayraktar said Russia is interested in participating in the Sinop and Thrace nuclear power plant projects and hopes to leverage the experience and human resources accumulated in the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project. In addition to Russia, Türkiye is also in negotiations with Canada, China, and South Korea on other nuclear power projects. He stated that beyond the Akkuyu plant, Türkiye plans to build eight more reactors...

2026-09-07