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France's Nuward plans to start construction of small modular reactor in 2030

The CEO of Nuward stated that the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is evaluating applications for the second round of projects, and the company plans to begin construction of its first small modular reactor in 2030 as part of an initial plan for 10 units. Nuward is a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF Group, focused on developing small modular reactor technology. At a related event during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Nuward CEO Julien Garrel detailed the development progress of the Nuward small modular reactor. He noted that the project has entered its next phase, with the goal of building the first batch of 10 Nuward small modular reactor series in five European countries.

2026-09-22

New Progress in Research on Microstructural Stability of High-Silicon Austenitic Steels for Lead-Cooled Fast Reactors

The lead-cooled fast reactor is an important reactor type in the fourth-generation nuclear energy system, and its structural materials need to withstand harsh service environments such as high temperature, irradiation, and liquid lead-bismuth corrosion over the long term. High-silicon austenitic stainless steel possesses excellent lead-bismuth corrosion resistance and is an important candidate structural material for core equipment such as the reactor vessel and internals of lead-cooled fast reactors. However, Si addition significantly alters the phase precipitation mechanism during high-temperature service and induces austenite decomposition, affecting the long-term microstructural stability of the material. Recently, the Special Alloys Research Department of the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, building on prior work that revealed Si-induced austenite decomposition behavior in high-silicon austenitic steels and the resulting mechanical...

2026-09-21

India Launches "DARSHAN" Centre to Accelerate Small Modular Reactor Technology Development

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has recently officially launched the DARSHAN Centre, aimed at advancing the development of India's domestic Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. The centre will provide high-performance computing, digital simulation, and advanced engineering support for the indigenous SMR jointly developed by NPCIL and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The DARSHAN Centre is an important milestone in India's advanced nuclear technology programme. The centre was established to strengthen India's autonomous capabilities in advanced reactor technology and to provide high-level engineering and analysis support for the indigenous SMR. The centre is equipped with high-performance computing infrastructure and advanced simulation capabilities, enabling engineers and research...

2026-09-20

US Delivers Cold War-Era Reactor Molten Salt Coolant to Texas Nuclear Innovation Project

The U.S. nuclear energy sector has recently seen a landmark cross-generational collaboration. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has formally delivered over 2 metric tons of FLiBe molten salt to Natura Resources, a nuclear startup headquartered in Abilene, Texas. This batch of molten salt once served as the coolant for the historic Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) during the Cold War, and after decades in storage, it has been reactivated to support the research, development, and deployment of fourth-generation nuclear reactor technology. The delivered FLiBe molten salt is a mixture of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, and its distinctive feature is that the lithium-7 (Li-7) isotope abundance within it reaches as high as 99.99%...

2026-09-20

ARC and Idaho National Laboratory Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance First Reactor Deployment

ARC Clean Technology announced earlier this week that it has signed a Strategic Partnership Project agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance, the operating and management contractor for Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The agreement establishes a multi-year collaboration framework aimed at advancing in-depth cooperation between ARC and INL on the design, demonstration, and first project deployment of the ARC-100, a 100 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor. Among the many emerging nuclear reactor startups, Washington, D.C.-based ARC stands as one of the oldest members. The company was founded in 2006, even earlier than well-known industry players such as TerraPower (...

2026-09-20

Romania and Argentina Nuclear Power Companies Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Deepen CANDU 6 Heavy Water Reactor Technology Cooperation

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company (SNN) and Argentina's Nuclear Power Company (NASA) signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on Thursday. According to a press release issued by the Romanian company, the two parties will engage in in-depth cooperation in the operation and development of CANDU 6 heavy water reactor technology. Both companies possess strong technical strength and rich practical experience in the engineering design, daily operation, equipment maintenance, large-scale project management, life extension, nuclear safety analysis, and reactor operation of CANDU 6 technology nuclear reactors. Argentina's Nuclear Power Company had previously successfully completed the refurbishment and upgrade of the Embalse Nuclear Power Plant, which uses CANDU technology...

2026-09-18

China Calls for Advancing SMR Innovation and Strengthening Global Nuclear Energy Cooperation

During the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, China on the 14th hosted a side event themed "Pooling Efforts for SMR Innovation, Building a Nuclear-Beautiful Home Together," focusing on strengthening international cooperation on small modular reactors (SMRs) worldwide, promoting technological innovation, standards coordination, capacity building and related deployment and application, and providing support for global climate governance and sustainable development. At the side event themed "Pooling Efforts for SMR Innovation, Building a Nuclear-Beautiful Home Together," Shan Zhongde, Director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, said that China regards nuclear energy as an important option for building a new energy system and achieving the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and, relying on a complete nuclear industry innovation chain, industrial chain and talent chain, has become one of the pioneers and pathbreakers in SMR development and deployment...

2026-09-18

Rosatom Establishes New Laboratory to Test Molten Salt Reactor Spent Fuel Reprocessing Technology

The first production site of the Khlopin Radium Institute, part of Rosatom's research division, is completing the construction of a new laboratory that will be dedicated to testing the processing and reprocessing technology for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from molten salt reactors (JSR/MSR). In the first phase of facility testing, it is planned to synthesize simulated fuel compositions based on lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, with added simulants of fission products and plutonium; subsequently, the technology will be validated on models, and ultimately practical application will be carried out on the basis of the research molten salt reactor (IZHSR) being built in Zheleznogorsk. The related construction, installation, and commissioning work is planned for completion by the end of 2026, and to prepare for...

2026-09-18

Centrus Energy to Supply HALEU Fuel to Antares Nuclear, Enabling Micro Nuclear Reactor Applications for Military and Space

U.S. nuclear fuel supplier Centrus Energy has signed a multi-year contract with advanced microreactor developer Antares Nuclear, under which Centrus will supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to Antares. This agreement is expected to expand the application scenarios of micro nuclear reactors to locations where traditional power sources are difficult to use, such as military facilities and space environments. As part of the agreement, Antares Nuclear will make advance payments to support Centrus in expanding HALEU production capacity in the United States. Compared with conventional low-enriched uranium, HALEU contains more uranium-235, with an enrichment level above 5% but below 20%. This new type of fuel can support smaller, higher-energy-density reac...

2026-09-18

Idaho State University to Build Second Nuclear Reactor

Idaho State University will add a second nuclear reactor, injecting new momentum into the local energy future. On September 17, local and state leaders gathered on the Idaho State University campus to officially announce an upcoming new project. It is reported that the project will give the university a second nuclear reactor, marking another important step in the university's nuclear power research and education. On the morning of the ceremony, participants gathered along Alvin Ricken Drive to listen to the presentation. The 275-acre research park is adjacent to the planned reactor site and is officially called an "advanced nuclear microreactor," with the formal name "Advanced Research and Test Reactor." If the project proceeds smoothly, the new reactor will, together with the...

2026-09-18

Two UK nuclear companies sign memorandum of understanding to jointly develop nuclear microreactor

Cambridge Vacuum Engineering (CVE) and Cambridge Atomworks have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the two companies will engage in deep collaboration on a UK-built nuclear microreactor. Cambridge Atomworks is an ambitious and vibrant nuclear engineering startup whose core goal is to build a nuclear microreactor in the UK for off-grid applications. The signing of this memorandum of understanding marks that the two companies will jointly explore how to maximize CVE's deep expertise in electron beam welding, including the company's Ebflow technology, which has been proven to significantly accelerate the production process of key nuclear power components such as reactor vessels...

2026-09-18

Blue Energy Submits Construction Permit Application to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Advance Texas Gas-to-Nuclear Project

Blue Energy announced that it has submitted Part One of its construction permit application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its first gas-to-nuclear project at Port Victoria, Texas. This milestone move makes Blue Energy one of only five nuclear energy companies to have submitted a construction permit application to the NRC in the current new wave of nuclear power development. Blue Energy employs the Blue Way of prefabricated and standardized construction, transport, and assembly of nuclear power plants. Compared with traditional nuclear power projects, this model can shorten project commissioning time by more than a decade and significantly reduce costs and construction risks. With the final investment decision expected to be made in 2027, the project plans to deploy GE Vernova 7HA.02 gas turbines and GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) to create a first-of-its-kind gas-to-nuclear hybrid power plant.

2026-09-17

Terrestrial Energy Submits Graphite Topical Report to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Advancing Integrated Molten Salt Reactor Licensing Process

Terrestrial Energy, a leading company in fourth-generation molten salt reactor technology, announced on September 10 that it has submitted the Graphite Topical Report to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The submission of this report is intended to establish a solid regulatory certification basis for the application of nuclear-grade graphite—a core component of the IMSR core unit—in commercial power plants, marking an important step in the company's commercialization process. The IMSR reactor is a graphite-moderated molten salt reactor. Although graphite has a relatively long history of application in the nuclear power field, regulators require independent performance verification for each specific reactor design to ensure safety and reliability. This submission...

2026-09-16

Armenia and the IAEA discuss the extension of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and the selection of the reactor type for a new nuclear power plant

On September 15, Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi held talks in Vienna, during which the two sides held in-depth discussions on the progress of the life extension project for Unit 2 of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) and the selection of the reactor type for a new nuclear power plant. According to a message posted by Khudatyan on social media, the talks were held during the 70th IAEA General Conference. We discussed with Rafael Grossi the ongoing and planned projects under the framework of industry cooperation with the IAEA...

2026-09-16

Sweden's Blykalla Partners with Microsoft to Use AI to Advance Licensing Review of Lead-Cooled Advanced Nuclear Reactor

Swedish advanced nuclear technology developer Blykalla recently announced a partnership with Microsoft to apply artificial intelligence (AI) technology to one of the most challenging bottlenecks in the nuclear power industry——project licensing and regulatory review. Blykalla has begun deploying Microsoft's GenAI for Energy Permitting Solution Accelerator and Agentic AI tools in its regulatory business processes, aiming to significantly shorten the licensing approval cycle for its Swedish Advanced Lead-cooled Reactor (SEALER) in Sweden and the United States. Microsoft's solution demonstrates how generative AI and AI agent...

2026-09-16