X-energy and Centrus Energy to Develop Fuel for Advanced Nuclear Reactors
X Energy, LLC and Centrus Energy Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration towards production of fuel for advanced nuclear reactors, the two companies announced on the 6th September.
X-energy, a pioneering advanced reactor and fuel company, and Centrus, an experienced nuclear fuel technology company, will work towards the development of a fuel fabrication facility. Based on the uranium oxycarbide (UCO) tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel form, this facility would provide fuel to X-energy reactors and advanced nuclear reactor companies around the world.
Dr Kam Ghaffarian, X-energy chief executive officer stated, “X-energy is focused on both our high temperature gas-cooled reactor development and the fuel needed to power our reactors. The Department of Energy has spent close to US$400 million in developing and qualifying the UCO TRISO particle in preparation for advanced reactor commercialisation.
“X-energy, in partnership with Centrus and taking advantage of its domestic enrichment experience and engineering know-how, is anxious to evaluate how we can together move UCO TRISO into final fuel form production, benefitting many in the industry.”
“X-energy’s innovative reactor design is a potential game-changer for America’s nuclear industry,” said Daniel Poneman, Centrus Energy president and chief executive officer. “Our technical and engineering teams are eager to help X-energy develop TRISO fuel for their reactor.
“We agree that American leadership in the global nuclear market requires that we develop an end-to-end domestic capability, from high-assay low-enriched uranium enrichment through fuel production, for next-generation reactors.”
Under the MoU, the companies will jointly prepare a deployment plan for X-energy’s TRISO fuel technology, design a cost-effective, highly automated fuel manufacturing process line and seek funding for a future commercial fuel production facility.