Kairos Power Completes First Phase of ETU 3 Reactor Mockup Testing

Kairos Power has completed the initial phase of testing for its Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) reactor mockup, located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This unit is part of Kairos Power's iterative development approach for its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology. The reduced-scale non-nuclear mockup cavity includes a reactor vessel and a precast concrete shielding structure, which utilizes 3D-printed polymer composite forms developed with Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. These components are supported by steel frames.

Each panel in the ETU 3 demonstration incorporates steel-framed openings designed to test various concrete shielding plug designs. These plugs allow process lines from the reactor to pass through the shielding structure to other plant areas. A remote handling system will be used to connect and disconnect these lines, aiming to minimize operational disruptions.

Ed Blandford, Kairos Power co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, stated that the completion of this initial demonstration at ETU 3 is an important step toward establishing a sustainable maintenance concept for the future fleet. He emphasized that demonstrating the interfaces between modular shielding structures and reactor equipment, and testing remote handling tools for component maintenance and replacement, provides a better understanding of design features that will be standardized in commercial KP-FHR deployments.

ETU 3, the third engineering test unit in the program, will inform the next iterations of the Hermes 2 reactor cavity design and serve as a training platform for future operators. Kairos Power broke ground for Hermes 2 on the former Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant footprint in April. The Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor (Hermes 1), a scaled demonstration reactor, is also under construction at Oak Ridge. Hermes 1, the first non-light-water reactor approved for construction by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will not produce electricity but will provide lessons for Hermes 2.

Previous test units include ETU 1.0, a full-scale, electrically heated prototype of the Hermes reactor, which completed over 2,000 hours of pumped salt operations. This unit demonstrated the design and integration of key systems, exercised the supply chain, and established new capabilities, including the production of high-purity fluoride-lithium-beryllium (FLiBe) salt coolant. ETU 2.0, a non-power unit, followed to demonstrate modular construction methods.

Argentina Targets 2027 Launch for RA-10 Multipurpose Reactor

Argentina is advancing with the RA-10 multipurpose nuclear research reactor project, targeting commissioning by the end of 2024 and full operation by 2027. The 30-megawatt open-pool reactor, located at the Ezeiza Atomic Centre, is currently 96% complete. A team of 530 personnel is conducting final work and system tests in preparation for its launch. The project, which began in June 2010 with a construction license granted in November 2014, is a key initiative for the country's nuclear sector.

The RA-10 is designed to produce products and services for health, science, technology, and industry. It is projected to supply approximately 20% of the global demand for molybdenum-99, a critical radioisotope used in nuclear medicine. The reactor's capacity is expected to exceed domestic demand, allowing for exports that could generate foreign exchange and create highly skilled jobs in a specialized international market with limited suppliers.

To finance the development and construction of the associated production plant, as well as its production and commercial activities, a model has been defined to incorporate private capital. The national government will maintain strategic leadership, with the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) overseeing regulation and oversight. Nuclear technology firm Invap is the main contractor, responsible for the design and construction of the reactor facility and related installations.

Beyond radioisotope production, the RA-10 will facilitate the production of doped silicon for industrial applications and support new research across various fields. It will also serve as a training platform. The facility will include associated installations such as the Argentine Neutron Beam Laboratory and the Laboratory for the Study of Irradiated Materials. The RA-10 is set to replace the 10 MWt RA-3 reactor, which has been operational at the same site since 1967.

Axis Energy Secures EPC Contract for 552 MWp Solar Project in India

Axis Energy has secured the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for a 552 MWp utility-scale solar power project. This project is situated in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, in India, and is being developed by Evren, a joint venture formed by Brookfield and Axis Energy. The commissioning of the solar facility is targeted for completion within the next 18 months.

The 552 MWp solar project is an integral component of a broader 400 MW wind-solar hybrid renewable energy project. This larger initiative incorporates battery energy storage systems (BESS) and is designed to connect to the state grid. Its primary objective is to supply renewable power during periods of peak demand.

In addition to the solar component, Axis Energy is also undertaking the EPC works for the wind segment of the project. This wind component has a capacity of 640.5 MW and is currently under construction. The combined efforts aim to enhance renewable energy generation and grid stability in the region.