The U.S. Energy Department on April 9 announced conditional commitments to provide high assay low enriched uranium, or HALEU, to five U.S. nuclear developers to fulfill their short-term fuel requirements. The five companies are: TerraPower, Kairos Power, TRISO-X, Radiant Industries, and Westinghouse Electric Company. This first round of HALEU allocations is a positive step in…...
U.S. uranium concentrate production reached a six year high of around 680,000 pounds of U3O8 during 2024, according to an April 3 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite increasing production and government policies to incentivize uranium concentrate, the U.S. remains a net importer. Uranium is widely used by nuclear power plants for…...
The U.S. Energy Department on March 24 reissued a $900 million funding opportunity to advance the commercial deployment of domestically manufactured Generation III+ Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs. Accelerating the development and commercialization of the reactors will provide reliable electricity, particularly for energy-intensive sources such as AI data centers. The department’s initiative supports President Trump’s…...
Regulators across multiple states are advancing efforts to improve distribution system planning, aiming to enhance grid reliability, accommodate the changing generation mix, and streamline infrastructure projects to better meet customer needs.
The Government of Canada on March 5 announced the signing of a preliminary contract with AtkinsRéalis to lend $304 million for four years for the development of a novel, large-scale, natural uranium–fuelled Canadian deuterium uranium, or CANDU, nuclear reactor. The objective is to innovate the nascent nuclear reactor technology further and deploy the design for…...
State lawmakers and utility commissions across the U.S. are moving swiftly to address surging energy demand from data centers, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence applications. As these facilities proliferate, regulators are taking proactive steps to ensure utilities can accommodate massive new loads without straining the grid or increasing costs for existing customers.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Feb. 7 issued its final environmental review for Units 1, 2, and 3 of the Oconee Nuclear Power Station in South Carolina. The environmental assessment will enable Duke Energy to obtain a second license renewal for the power plant, extending the station’s operations for another 20 years. The commission found…...
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright signed an order, directing the U.S. Department of Energy to take actions to advance President Trump’s energy agenda. The department outlined a number of actions to implement President Trump’s executive orders including expanding energy production, advancing energy innovation, enabling next generation nuclear power technology, and strengthening grid reliability. As part…...
The U.K. government on Feb. 6 announced plans to revise existing nuclear planning regulations to reduce red tape and accelerate the approval and construction of nuclear reactors. The changes will support the development of smaller nuclear reactors and allow more flexible siting for projects. A more efficient, timely approval process will allow nuclear developers in…...
As electricity demand soars, nuclear power is emerging as a key solution to ensure grid stability and achieve net-zero emissions goals. More recently, increasing demand, particularly from data centers, is fueling the push to restart previously shut-down nuclear plants.
