DOE Awards $800M for Small Nuclear Reactor Development

New Funding for Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

An additional $800 million in grants has been allocated by the Trump administration to support the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies.

Both the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Holtec International have been selected to receive $400 million each from the Department of Energy.

Project Details and Locations

These funds will be utilized for the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs), leveraging established nuclear fission principles.

The TVA project, located in Tennessee, will feature a single 300-megawatt reactor supplied by GE Vernova Hitachi.

Holtec, conversely, plans to construct a pair of 300-megawatt reactors within the state of Michigan.

Growing Interest from the Tech Sector

The increasing energy demands of the technology industry, particularly driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), have led to renewed interest in nuclear power.

Tech companies are recognizing the need for substantial and reliable electricity sources to power their growing operations.

Generation III+ Reactor Technology

The reactors slated for construction represent Generation III+ designs.

These designs are evolutionary improvements upon existing, well-established nuclear reactor technologies that have been operational for many years.

A key objective of the SMR approach is to reduce construction costs through mass production of components and streamlined construction processes.

Current Status of SMRs

Despite the potential benefits, the adoption of SMR technology remains in its early stages.

According to the World Nuclear Association, only two small modular reactors are currently in operation globally.

This highlights the challenges associated with deploying this new generation of nuclear technology.