Doosan Enerbility of South Korea to Manufacture Pressure Vessel for NuScale Small Modular Reactor

Recently, U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) developer NuScale Power and South Korea's Doosan Enerbility formally signed a component manufacturing contract at the Changwon headquarters, under which Doosan will manufacture core components including the upper reactor pressure vessel for the NuScale Power Module (NPM). It is reported that, according to the contract requirements, Doosan Enerbility will manufacture the upper reactor coolant system and pressure vessel components at its Changwon reactor production base. The two parties have been cooperating since 2019, and this signing marks the comprehensive upgrade of their cooperation from material preparation to the actual manufacturing stage of reactor components for commercial deployment, providing NuScale with reliable equipment delivery assurance...

2026-10-31

US Centrus Energy Ships First Centrifuge to Support Piketon Expansion

Recently, the technology and manufacturing center of US-based Centrus Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has completed the manufacture of its first new advanced centrifuge and officially shipped it to the uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio. This milestone marks the entry of Centrus' multi-billion-dollar uranium enrichment capacity expansion project into the on-site cascade assembly phase. The project adopts Centrus' independently developed AC-100M advanced centrifuge technology. The first batch of expanded enrichment capacity is expected to officially enter operation in 2029, aiming to simultaneously meet the commercialization and national security needs of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)...

2026-10-31

U.S. Announces $50 Million to Fund Next-Generation Nuclear Fuel R&D

Recently, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of 8 innovative projects and will provide a total of up to $50 million in funding to fully advance breakthroughs in next-generation nuclear reactor fuel technologies. It is reported that this funding focuses on cutting-edge technical pathways such as nuclear fuel fabrication, irradiation testing, and safety certification, aiming to significantly reduce fuel production costs and shorten the commercialization deployment cycle of advanced reactors. The projects will focus on overcoming manufacturing bottlenecks in key materials such as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and advanced tristructural isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy stated that this funding directly implements U.S. President Donald Trump's...

2026-10-31

Sandia National Laboratories Awarded $3.38 Million to Develop Next-Generation Nuclear Reactor Fuel

Recently, according to U.S. media reports, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $3.38 million grant to Sandia National Laboratories to develop advanced analytical tools to advance the production and deployment of next-generation nuclear reactor fuel. It is reported that Brandon Williams, Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and Deborah Frincke, Deputy Director of Sandia National Laboratories, announced at a press conference that the project is named Transuranic Reactor Fuel Pathway Sociotechnical Analysis, Techno-Economics, and Coordination (TRU-PATH). The core of the project lies in establishing a new analytical plat...

2026-10-31

Standard Nuclear CEO Discusses U.S. Oak Ridge Expansion Project

Recently, Kurt Terrani, CEO of U.S. advanced nuclear fuel producer Standard Nuclear, stated that the company is planning to expand advanced nuclear fuel production capacity in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to meet strong market demand for advanced reactor fuel. It is reported that Standard Nuclear was founded in 2024 and primarily produces advanced nuclear fuel serving the fields of national security and space exploration. Terrani noted that as multiple U.S. nuclear companies invest billions of dollars in Oak Ridge, the area has become the core hub of U.S. advanced nuclear innovation, but current advanced nuclear fuel supply capacity still lags far behind market demand. As an advanced...

2026-10-31

DARPA Advances Autonomous Operation of Space Nuclear Reactors

Recently, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced that under the framework of the Fat Cat program, it has awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to space nuclear power startup Space Nuclear Power Corporation (SpaceNukes). The project is managed by Tabitha Dodson, program manager in DARPA's Defense Sciences Office, and aims to develop autonomous operation technology for deep-space fission reactors capable of self-regulation without the need for continuous human supervision. It is reported that the project is led by the same engineering team that previously successfully conducted the 2018 ground test of the Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY)....

2026-10-31

First New Centrifuge of Centrus Energy Rolls Off Production Line, Boosting Uranium Enrichment Expansion

Recently, U.S. nuclear fuel enrichment company Centrus Energy announced that it has successfully completed the manufacturing of the first new centrifuge for its multi-billion-dollar uranium enrichment capacity expansion program and has officially launched interstate transportation of the equipment, shipping it from Tennessee to the Piketon enrichment plant in Ohio. It is reported that the new centrifuge was manufactured at Centrus Energy's facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and will undergo final assembly and testing upon arrival in Ohio. Centrus Energy plans to install multiple new centrifuge cascade arrays at the Piketon enrichment plant to achieve a comprehensive upgrade of commercial low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production capacity.

2026-10-30

U.S. Energy Secretary Visits Palisades Nuclear Plant Restart Site

Recently, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited Holtec International's Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan to inspect on-site the restart progress of this 805-megawatt retired nuclear unit and announced that the U.S. nuclear energy revival has taken a key step forward. It is reported that this restart project has received support from a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee, a special appropriation from the Michigan state government, and large-scale investment from Holtec International. Kris Singh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Holtec International, emphasized that...

2026-10-30

Texas Leverages Federal Subsidies to Build a U.S. Hub for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Recently, the U.S. state of Texas is rapidly emerging as a core hub for advanced reactors and small modular reactor (SMR) innovation across the United States, backed by tens of billions of dollars in federal earmarked funding and tax credit policies. It is reported that at least 7 new nuclear reactor projects have been announced in Texas. Among them, X-Energy is awaiting federal approval to build a next-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with a cost exceeding $4 billion and a capacity of 320 megawatts at Dow's plastics plant in Seadrift; Natura Resources has partnered with Abilene Christian ...

2026-10-30

US Company Deep Isolation Announces Start of Site Preparation for Texas Deep Borehole Demonstration Project

Recently, US-based nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Nuclear announced that it has officially launched site preparation activities at its Deep Borehole Demonstration Center in Texas, marking the entry of deep borehole nuclear waste disposal technology into the pilot construction phase. It is reported that the project was selected for the Scaleup Ready program of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and received up to $40 million in federal funding support. This site preparation work includes building a calculated wellsite to provide the surface foundation for subsequent drilling, casing, and cementing operations of the demonstration borehole. The wellsite...

2026-10-29

US and Turkish Refining Giant Sign Agreement to Evaluate SMR Feasibility

Recently, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) signed an agreement with Tüpraş, Turkey's largest refiner, under which the U.S. side will fund a feasibility study to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of using small modular reactors (SMRs) to supply electricity, high-grade industrial heat, and steam to the refinery. It is reported that the study will conduct a comprehensive assessment of multiple leading U.S. reactor technologies, covering technical and economic feasibility, environmental performance, regulatory compliance, and industrial application scenarios, and will develop a specific roadmap for Tüpraş's subsequent decision on whether to deploy SMRs. USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy stated that the project will issue a public tender aimed at...

2026-10-29

Hyundai Engineering of South Korea Partners with Two U.S. SMR Developers

Recently, Hyundai Engineering of South Korea announced the signing of memoranda of understanding with U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) developers NANO Nuclear Energy and ARC Clean Technology, marking a comprehensive push into the global small modular reactor and Generation IV advanced nuclear reactor markets. Under the cooperation framework with NANO Nuclear, Hyundai Engineering will integrate its comprehensive capabilities in engineering design, procurement, construction (EPC), supply chain management, and modular construction to jointly advance the KRONOS reactor energy system project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The reactor is a 45...

2026-10-29

US Plans $15 Billion Nuclear Reactor Manufacturing Hub in Oak Ridge

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and several nuclear energy companies jointly announced that they will invest a total of $15 billion to build a nationwide advanced nuclear reactor development and equipment manufacturing center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It is reported that the project is primarily driven and supported by private capital and is expected to create approximately 10,000 high-paying technical jobs locally over the next five years. The plan aims to completely reshape Oak Ridge's nuclear energy industrial landscape by shutting down legacy gaseous diffusion facilities and building new advanced nuclear fuel fabrication plants, uranium enrichment facilities, and modular reactor production lines, establishing a reactor manufacturing supply...

2026-10-28

U.S. Department of Energy Provides $5 Billion Loan to Support Constellation Energy's 1.1 GW Nuclear Power Uprate

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $5 billion to Constellation Energy, the largest nuclear power operator in the United States, to fund large-scale upgrades and modernization of its 8 nuclear power plants (with a total of 15 operating reactors) located in Illinois, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It is reported that this massive financing is aimed at improving thermal efficiency and power output through equipment modernization, and is expected to add nearly 1.1 GW (1,100 MW) of clean baseload generation capacity to the existing U.S. nuclear fleet. The affected projects cover 8 nuclear power plants including Braidwood, Byron, Calvert Cliffs, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, Quad Cities, and Limerick...

2026-10-28

Norway Funds Research and Development of Microreactors for Marine Nuclear Propulsion

Recently, the Research Council of Norway announced an early-stage grant of US$2 million to the Marine Nuclear Power Systems (MarNuPS) project to support the integration and testing of maritime nuclear propulsion technology. It is reported that the project is led by the Norwegian subsidiary of Emerald Nuclear, a U.S. microreactor startup, with a total first-phase research budget of approximately US$15 million. Emerald's GEM microreactor concept uses tristructural isotropic (TRISO) high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel, has a refueling cycle of 5 to 15 years, and plans to adopt a "reactor leasing" rather than direct sales...

2026-10-28

U.S. NRC Issues New Rule Allowing Use of Demonstration Data to Accelerate Commercial Licensing

Recently, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) finalized a major new regulatory rule that explicitly allows applicants for commercial nuclear reactors to cite analyses, test data, and operating experience from reactor demonstration projects previously authorized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) as technical support basis for commercial licensing applications. It is reported that the rule implements Executive Order 14300 and amends relevant provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50 (adding new Section 50.43(f)) and Part 53....

2026-10-27

Final Environmental Impact Statement Issued for U.S. Laser Enrichment Facility

Recently, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) officially released the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), recommending the formal issuance of a construction and operating license for the proposed plant. It is understood that the facility, located in Kentucky, will use the proprietary SILEX laser uranium enrichment technology of Silex Systems Ltd. to re-enrich depleted uranium tailings from previous gaseous diffusion enrichment plant operations of the U.S. Department of Energy. The project will not only produce conventional low...

2026-10-27

Holtec Successfully Recovers Tilted Fuel Assembly at Palisades Nuclear Power Plant

Recently, the engineering team of Holtec International has successfully used a specially manufactured device—conceived, designed, and delivered in just two weeks—to safely retrieve and recover a previously tilted fuel assembly from the Reactor Pressure Vessel at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan. It is reported that the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, a single-unit Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) retired in 2022, officially commenced fuel loading operations in late August this year. However, on September 21, due to a fuel assembly...

2026-10-27

Pulsed Fusion Technology Race Drives U.S. High-Voltage Semiconductor R&D; Helion Secures $225 Million to Build Domestic Supply Chain

U.S. commercial fusion developer Helion Energy has recently reached a preliminary funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce to receive up to $175 million in federal funding support under the framework of the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS Act). Combined with $50 million in matching funds from private investors, the total joint investment of $225 million will be dedicated to establishing dedicated manufacturing bases and production lines in the United States, with a full-scale push to develop high-voltage, high-power pulsed semiconductor power devices and integrated modules required for commercial fusion reactor operation. Helion's technology pathway is fundamentally based on high-power pulsed power systems, a physical approach...

2026-10-24

Successful Removal of Toppled Fuel Assembly at Palisades Nuclear Reactor in the United States

Holtec International, the owner of the Palisades nuclear reactor located in Covert, Michigan, announced on Wednesday that it had successfully removed the nuclear fuel assembly that had previously toppled during refueling through technological innovation, and stated that it would continue to advance the restart of the nuclear unit. Fadi Diya, Chief Nuclear Safety Officer of Holtec International, said the team consistently upheld safety standards and technical rigor in addressing this challenge. The Palisades nuclear reactor was originally commissioned in 1971, was acquired by Holtec International after its retirement in 2022, and now...

2026-10-24

St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant in the United States Marks 50 Years of Operation and Receives Approval for 20-Year License Renewal

The St. Lucie County Nuclear Power Plant in Florida recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its commercial operation and simultaneously received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend its operating license by an additional 20 years beyond the original term, raising the upper limit of its design operating service life to 70 years. This approval marks a significant achievement in the plant's safe operation and reflects its important role in future energy supply. As the primary zero-carbon baseload power source in Florida's coastal region, the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant has, over the past five decades of operation, provided...

2026-10-23