Projects & reactors

Architect Norman Foster, speaking at the World Nuclear Symposium in London, emphasized the critical role of industrialized nuclear power, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-modular reactors (MMRs), in addressing climate change and meeting future energy demands. He highlighted the potential for these technologies to offer carbon-free energy solutions, reduce land use compared to some renewables, and enable energy autonomy for communities.

Holtec has submitted the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Pioneer 1 & 2 SMR-300 units planned for the Palisades site. This marks the second phase of the Construction Permit Application process, which began in December 2025.

The nuclear industry is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the extension of existing plant operating lives, the progression of new reactor technologies from concept to construction, and increased investment in domestic manufacturing and fuel production. Utilities are also focusing on strengthening supply chains to support future operations.

Major Indian utilities are adopting locally designed pressurised heavy water reactors to overcome project delays and leverage established domestic supply chains as the country pursues an elevenfold increase in nuclear capacity.

Kairos Power has completed the initial phase of testing for its Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) reactor mockup, a key step in developing its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology. The testing, conducted at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, focused on demonstrating interfaces between modular shielding structures and reactor equipment, and evaluating remote handling tools for component maintenance and replacement.

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) have emerged as a rapid fundraising mechanism for advanced nuclear developers, securing hundreds of millions of dollars quickly. However, this path to public markets also exposes these capital-intensive companies to significant valuation volatility and market sentiment fluctuations.

Draft licensing and safety rules enable private and foreign participation in nuclear energy development, with operators required to demonstrate financial and technical capabilities across the fuel cycle.

ARC Clean Technology has entered into a Strategic Partnership Project agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance, establishing a multiyear framework with Idaho National Laboratory for design, demonstration and first deployment of the ARC-100, a 100-MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor.

The inaugural meeting of the Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative has commenced in the USA, bringing together numerous nations to explore the potential of nuclear energy, particularly advanced small modular reactors, for maritime uses. This collaborative effort aims to address safety, security, regulatory, and safeguards aspects for deploying nuclear technologies at sea, with some designs potentially ready by the 2030s.

New draft regulations for India's nuclear sector introduce a unified licensing framework for private participation while restricting foreign reactor designs to self-reliant nations.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a public meeting on the “Advanced Reactor Landscape: Current Status and Moving Forward,” bringing together leaders from federal agencies and multiple reactor developers to share updates on high-profile new nuclear projects and initiatives.

A memorandum of cooperation between the United States Department of Transportation and Core Power establishes a framework to develop nuclear propulsion for commercial vessels, targeting first construction starts in 2028.

India aims to operationalize five new nuclear reactors by 2030 and reach 100 GW of capacity, supported by legislative framework and domestic technology development.

The South Korean manufacturer will supply core internals for TerraPower's sodium-cooled fast reactor, marking a milestone in the commercialization of advanced SMR technology.

Framatome and Ion Beam Applications (IBA) have formed a new joint company, Ekalia, to advance the industrial-scale production of astatine-211 in Europe and the United States. The first production site is planned for Nantes, France, with an anticipated investment of €30 million.

First American Nuclear Co has submitted a regulatory engagement plan to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel fabrication facility designed to supply its EAGL-1 advanced reactor and other customers.

The ITER Organization has received the ninth and final vacuum vessel segment, vacuum vessel sector #2, at its Cadarache site in southern France. This delivery marks the completion of major component arrivals for the core machine assembly, including the vacuum vessel, superconducting magnets, and cryostat.

ARC Clean Technology has entered a multi-year framework agreement with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) under which INL will provide support spanning engineering and design, advanced materials and manufacturing, modelling and computing, irradiation testing, reactor commissioning and operation, and site development for the ARC-100 sodium-cooled fast reactor.

Keralam is seeking a dedicated power plant and advanced energy storage systems to address its growing electricity needs. Discussions with NTPC have led to plans for a 2000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System and two 80 MWh BESS projects, alongside power supply agreements and technical collaboration.

McDermott will support integration of small modular reactor-powered energy solutions for industrial decarbonisation, building on prior hydrogen study work with ULC-Energy as Dutch policy moves toward possible new reactors and SMR preparation.