Search Results

U.S. Completes Mechanical Property Measurements of Irradiated HALEU TRISO Fuel Particles

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have completed mechanical property measurements of irradiated high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) TRISO fuel particles, providing new experimental data for the development and qualification of next-generation nuclear fuels. This is an optical cross-sectional image of an irradiated AGR-2 TRISO fuel particle in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Image credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy. TRISO fuel, or tri-structural isotropic fuel, features particles coated with multiple protective layers, typically including pyrolytic carbon layers and a silicon carbide layer. This structure provides strong fission product retention capability and is considered one of the key fuel options for advanced reactors, particularly high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Understanding the property changes of these coatings after irradiation is a critical step in predicting fuel performance under reactor operating conditions.

2026-09-04

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

Global Advanced Nuclear Energy Market Report Focuses on SMR and Fusion Development

The recently released "Global Advanced Nuclear Energy Market Report 2027–2047" shows that the global advanced nuclear energy industry is transitioning from concept validation and early-stage R&D to a new phase where project deployment, capital inflow, and supply chain development proceed in parallel. The report uses 2027 as the base year with a two-year baseline period to assess the development trajectory of the advanced nuclear energy market over the next 20 years. It covers small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear fusion, and a range of emerging advanced nuclear technologies, including molten salt reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, lead-cooled fast reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, microreactors, advanced fuel cycles, integrated nuclear energy systems, and the application of artificial intelligence in nuclear power plant operations...

2026-09-02

U.S. NRIC Selects 13 Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) announced on August 24 that 13 new projects have been selected for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program. NRIC is based at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). NRIC Director Brad Tomer stated that this round of selections reflects developers' growing commitment to advancing related technologies. The program will provide companies with a priority pathway to DOE authorization, as well as access to expert resources, facility conditions, and targeted regulatory support to adv...

2026-08-26

NANO Nuclear and QNI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Domestic HALEU Fuel Supply Cooperation in the U.S.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NANO Nuclear) and Quadrant Nuclear Industries, Inc. (QNI) announced on August 18 that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a non-binding framework for future high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel supply cooperation. Under the MOU, the parties will engage in discussions regarding the supply of HALEU to be produced by QNI in the future and long-term offtake arrangements. The fuel in question is planned to come from QNI's proposed Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). QNI stated that once the facility operates at full capacity, its annual HALEU production...

2026-08-19

Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety to Host First Advanced Reactor Safety Technology Symposium

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) announced that it will host the 1st Symposium on Advanced Reactor Safety Technology (SARST 2026) on September 1-2, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom on the first floor of the Commodore Hotel Busan. The event aims to facilitate exchanges on domestic and international advanced reactor technology trends and safety regulation issues, promoting technical communication and cooperation among regulatory bodies, developers, and research institutions. As the inaugural symposium, SARST is planned to be held annually thereafter. This year's conference will be divided into a plenary session and two technical sessions, covering topics such as the development of regulatory frameworks for advanced reactors, regulatory research progress, responses to standard design certification for innovative small modular reactors (i-SMR), and verification plans for related design features, among other subjects.

2026-08-16

X-energy says U.S. Department of Energy plans to add up to $1 billion in funding for Texas advanced nuclear reactor project

X-energy CEO Clay Sell said during an earnings call on August 13 that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has informed the company it will add up to $1 billion in public funding for the advanced nuclear energy project it is advancing with Dow Inc. in Texas. Sell stated that total available public funding for the Dow project in Seadrift, Texas, will reach up to $2.15 billion since 2021. The additional funding will carry the same 50-50 cost-sharing requirement as the initial award. The project is supported by the DOE's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP)...

2026-08-14

Oklahoma Strives to Build the Nation's First Nuclear Energy Innovation Hub

Oklahoma is actively competing to become the first nuclear energy innovation hub in the United States, having submitted a detailed 31-page proposal. The plan aims to cover the entire nuclear fuel lifecycle management, encompassing fuel fabrication, advanced reactor construction, spent fuel recycling, and permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Oklahoma's goal is to establish the first permanent waste disposal solution in the U.S., achieving this before commercial nuclear power deployment. In the proposal, deep borehole drilling for radioactive waste disposal emerges as a key component. This method involves drilling thousands of feet deep and placing radioactive waste sealed in specially designed containers into the subsurface, followed by sealing the borehole.

2026-08-05

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes to IAEA regulatory cooperation toolkit for advanced reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently published the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) Regulatory Cooperation Toolkit. The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) played a significant role in the development of this toolkit, which is designed to support cooperation among national nuclear regulators in the review of advanced reactor technologies. The toolkit is one of the key outputs of Phase 2 of the NHSI (2025–2026), developed jointly by multiple regulators participating in the NHSI Regulatory Track and the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Regulators' Forum. The toolkit provides practical guidance, templates, and methodologies to help regulators conduct collaborative reviews, leverage existing regulatory assessment outcomes, and address...

2026-08-05