Small modular reactor technology advances through new fabrication and funding

Developments in small modular reactor (SMR) technology are advancing through new hardware fabrication and significant federal funding. NuScale Power Corporation and MillenniTEK have successfully produced the first safety-grade pellets for an SMR design that has already received clearance from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This milestone moves a critical component of reactor hardware from the design phase into active fabrication.

In a separate development, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded X-energy $1 billion in additional funding to support the construction of four SMRs at Dow’s Long Mott Generating Station in Seadrift, Texas. This brings the total Department of Energy cost-share contribution for the project to $2.1 billion. If approved, the facility would be the first advanced nuclear plant located at an industrial site in the United States. Dow expects to receive a construction permit by the end of 2026, with the project potentially coming online by the early 2030s.