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South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission Establishes Pre-Review System for SMRs to Accelerate Licensing

Recently, South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) officially launched a preliminary review system for small modular reactors (SMRs). This pre-licensing channel, established as new legislation, stems from the previously passed amendment to the Nuclear Safety Act and is designed to build a procedural bridge between early-stage reactor design and the highly rigorous formal licensing stage, thereby comprehensively streamlining the commercialization development process for SMRs. The preliminary review will be conducted before the submission of a formal construction permit application, focusing on assessing whether various design concepts and technical blueprints can pass final safety justification, and identifying potential technical blind spots at an early stage. By...

2026-11-14

America's First "Large Reactor in a Chemical Plant" Clears the Hurdle: X-energy Xe-100 Ushers in the Conclusion of Safety Review and a Key Springboard to Commercialization

In the global race to industrialize advanced nuclear energy technologies, the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is reaching a milestone. In late October 2026, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) formally issued the Final Safety Evaluation Report (FSER) for the construction permit application of the Long Mott Generating Station, proposed to be built at Dow Chemical's Seadrift site along the Texas Gulf Coast. This means that the Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, developed by X-energy with an installed capacity of 320 megawatts electric, has successfully passed the most central safety examination at the U.S. nuclear regulatory level, clearing...

2026-11-03

Germany Launches Fusion Milestone Program: Plans to Invest €2.5 Billion to Support Fusion Companies Toward Commercialization

On October 7, 2026, the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), officially launched the Fusion Milestone Program. The program is an important component of Germany's High-Tech Agenda (HTAD), aiming to promote fusion startups and young companies from technology R&D toward demonstration power plant construction through funding support linked to technological progress and commercialization outcomes, further shortening the distance from laboratory research to commercial application of nuclear fusion. According to the program arrangements, the German government will provide funding support through the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality (SVIK), with plans to invest...

2026-10-09

South Korea's HD Hyundai Deepens Marine SMR Layout: Joint Industry-University-Research Initiative Establishes Demonstration Center to Accelerate Commercialization Validation of Marine SMRs

South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai is comprehensively accelerating the commercialization process of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The company recently joined hands with South Korea's nuclear energy industry, academia, and authoritative classification societies to sign a multi-party cooperation agreement, announcing the formal establishment of the SMR Marine Technology Demonstration Center, aimed at deeply integrating the construction capabilities of shipbuilding engineering with the cutting-edge research strengths of the nuclear industry and universities, creating a core catalyst for the commercial deployment of marine nuclear power. The demonstration center brings together a total of 12 industry-university-research units, including the Korean Register (KR), key nuclear energy institutions, and multiple major South Korean universities....

2026-10-08

Jefferson Lab Signs CRADA to Advance Commercialization of Subsurface Tritium Continuous Monitor: Overcoming the Challenge of Online Monitoring of Low-Energy Beta Particles in Groundwater at Nuclear Power and Fusion Facilities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) announced that it has formally signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with startup company Canary Instruments to jointly advance the commercialization of its independently developed Subsurface Continuous Radioisotope Environmental Monitor (SCREM). This technology is specifically designed for nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel facilities, and future...

2026-10-07

Hangyang Share and Hangzhou Turbine Technology Jointly Invest in Startorus Fusion to Accelerate the Commercialization of Multi-Stroke Magnetic Reconnection Fusion

Two domestic high-end manufacturing listed companies, Hangyang Share (002430.SZ) and Hangzhou Turbine Technology (300277.SZ), have issued a joint investment announcement, declaring their joint capital contribution to acquire equity in commercial nuclear fusion innovation enterprise Shanghai Startorus Fusion Technology Co., Ltd. (Startorus Fusion). According to the investment agreement, Hangyang Share and Hangzhou Turbine Technology will each contribute RMB 50 million, each acquiring a 0.66% equity stake in Startorus Fusion; the remaining investors will jointly contribute RMB 720 million, collectively subscribing to a 9.45% equity stake. This capital injection further boosts capital attention on the domestic commercial controlled nuclear fusion industry. Startorus Fusion was established in 2021...

2026-09-24

US and UK Join Forces to Accelerate Commercialization of Fusion Energy

At the Global Fusion Policy Summit held in London on Monday, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), which operates under the US Department of Energy, signed a joint statement of intent. The two sides plan to establish a partnership called the SUNRISE–STELLAR-AI Federation, integrating the UK's first supercomputer dedicated to fusion research, SUNRISE (funded by the UK government with £45 million), with PPPL's STELLAR-AI supercomputing platform (costing $13 million), to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate fusion energy R&D. The collaboration builds on a memorandum of understanding signed by both parties in June this year and will utilize the UKAEA...

2026-09-16

South Korea's SMR Special Act Takes Effect, Aiming to Commercialize Light Water SMRs by 2035

On September 11, 2026, the South Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that the Special Act on the Promotion of and Support for the Development of Small Modular Reactors, along with its enforcement decree, which aims to promote the research and development, demonstration, and commercialization of small modular reactors (SMRs), took effect on that day. Against the backdrop of growing electricity demand driven by the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and data centers, the South Korean government plans to increase support for the SMR sector through measures such as seven SEED projects. Under the Special Act and its enforcement decree, MSIT will formulate a basic plan for small modular reactor system development every five years, and prepare annual implementation...

2026-09-12

US Lightbridge Aims to Accelerate Advanced Nuclear Fuel Commercialization via INL Project

Lightbridge Corporation, a US advanced nuclear fuel technology company, announced on September 8 that it has been selected for the "Launchpad" program advanced by the US Department of Energy (DOE) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and plans to leverage this opportunity to accelerate the deployment of Lightbridge Fuel™ in commercial reactors. According to a shareholder letter from Lightbridge Chairman and CEO Seth Grae, the company will pursue a two-track commercialization strategy: on one track, under DOE authorization, it will build the Specialized High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Extrusion Demonstration (SHED) facility to produce Lead Test Assemblies (LTAs); on the other...

2026-09-09

U.S. Lightbridge Selected for DOE LaunchPad INL Program to Advance Commercialization of Advanced Nuclear Fuel

Lightbridge Corporation, a U.S. advanced nuclear fuel technology company, announced on August 31 that it has been selected for the Nuclear Energy LaunchPad program (LaunchPad INL) managed by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The company stated that the program will provide an accelerated pathway for it to design, construct, and operate a dedicated facility at INL to manufacture lead test assemblies (LTAs) of Lightbridge Fuel™, with subsequent testing supported at U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. Lead test assemblies are generally regarded as a critical qualification step for nuclear fuel after reactor testing and before commercial fuel sales...

2026-09-01

South Korea's POSCO Group Invests in Japanese Fusion Company Kyoto Fusion Engineering

South Korea's POSCO Group has invested in Japanese fusion energy company Kyoto Fusion Engineering (KF) to establish an early presence in the global fusion energy market and explore new business opportunities in future steel, specialty materials, and energy infrastructure. According to industry sources on the 27th, POSCO Group participated in Kyoto Fusion Engineering's Series D funding round. The investment was made through the Korea-Japan Fusion Fund, established by IMM Investment Japan (IMMJ) together with Korean and Japanese investors. POSCO Holdings and POSCO International also contributed to the fund...

2026-08-27

U.S. Apollo Atomics Secures $31 Million in Funding to Advance Commercialization of Compact Pressurized Water Reactor

U.S.-based Apollo Atomics recently announced the completion of a $31 million seed funding round to advance the commercialization of its next-generation compact pressurized water reactor. Incubated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and backed by Y Combinator, the company plans to shift the reactor from the traditional one-off large-scale construction model to a factory-manufactured, scalable product. The round was led by FCVC, with participation from Y Combinator, Telesoft Partners, Alumni Ventures, Robinhood Ventures, Nucleation Capital, Pelion VC, and Duke Capital Partners. The company stated that the proceeds will be used to...

2026-08-21

South Korea Sets 2035 Commercialization Target for Small Modular Reactors

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of South Korea announced on August 12 its "Seven Future Growth Engines SEED" promotion plan, designating small modular reactors, nuclear fusion, and next-generation renewable energy as key focus areas for the future clean energy sector. Among these, nuclear power-related content primarily centers on the commercialization of small modular reactors, research and development of non-light water reactor-type reactors, nuclear fuel supply security, and fusion demonstration power generation. According to the plan, South Korea will advance the development of light water reactor-type small modular reactors, targeting commercialization in Gijang County, Busan by 2035. The innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR) will undergo detailed design through public-private cooperation starting next year...

2026-08-13

South Korean Scholar Patents Fusion Reactor Optimization Design Method

Professor Bonggeun Hong (transliteration) of the Department of Quantum System Engineering at the College of Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, has recently registered a patent for a fusion reactor optimization design method, aimed at supporting the engineering design and commercialization of next-generation fusion technology. [Image source: Jeonbuk National University] The design method proposed in the patent can evaluate the performance of fusion reactors in various application scenarios—including power generation, thermal energy utilization, and use as a neutron source for nuclear transmutation—while optimizing device dimensions and key component structures. Its core approach is to simultaneously consider fusion system performance and economic feasibility during the initial design phase, thereby deriving more optimal design solutions.

2026-08-06

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Fully Develop Small Modular Reactors, Targeting Commercialization in Japan

Against the backdrop of the Japanese government's push to expand nuclear energy utilization, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has decided to proceed with full-scale development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with the goal of achieving commercial application in Japan. This is seen as a significant step forward by a Japanese private enterprise toward the practical deployment of SMRs. The Basic Energy Plan approved by Japan's Cabinet last year calls for maximizing the use of nuclear energy. At a ministerial meeting held last week, the Japanese government once again confirmed its commitment to advancing the research, development, and deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors. SMRs represent one of the technology pathways for next-generation nuclear reactors. Due to their smaller unit size and higher degree of modularization, the industry generally...

2026-08-05