Advanced reactors and SMR programs consuming HALEU — TerraPower, X-energy, Kairos, Oklo and fleet demand
The NRC has issued the first commercial non-light-water reactor construction permit to TerraPower's Natrium plant in Wyoming. However, the project faces a two-year delay until 2030 due to the lack of domestic commercial HALEU capacity.
X-energy's Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors are securing major commercial customers, including Dow, Amazon, and Centrica. The upcoming TX-1 fuel plant will provide the necessary HALEU TRISO fuel to power this growing fleet of next-generation reactors.
Framatome has signed the world's first commercial contract to deliver nuclear fuel reloads with uranium-235 enrichment above the 5% standard to an operating US reactor, signaling growing demand for higher assay fuels.
Multiple advanced reactor developers, including X-energy, Antares Nuclear, and Radiant, have secured definitive HALEU supply agreements with Centrus Energy, validating the accelerating commercial demand for next-generation fuel.
The White House's plan to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050 to power AI data centers is accelerating the demand for HALEU. With the DOE forecasting domestic demand to reach 50 metric tons annually, advanced reactor designs are pushing the limits of current enrichment bottlenecks.
Next-generation Small Modular Reactors require HALEU to reduce size and extend fuel cycles. Industry partners and INL are collaborating to test new TRISO fuel varieties to support these advanced reactor designs.
Hyperscale data center operators and Small Modular Reactor developers are accelerating HALEU demand to secure 24/7 baseload power for AI and military applications.
Centrus Energy and X-energy signed a definitive long-term contract for LEU and HALEU enrichment services to support the Xe-100 SMR fleet. The agreement includes prepayments to help expand domestic commercial enrichment capacity in Ohio.
Oklo's HALEU-powered Aurora microreactor is on track for a 2028 commercial debut at INL. The company has amassed a 14 GW non-binding order book for its advanced reactors.
Oklo is moving forward with its Aurora Powerhouse microreactor design, securing a letter of intent with Centrus Energy to fulfill its critical HALEU fuel requirements for future deployments.
Antares Nuclear is accelerating its compact microreactor development for critical missions, targeting electricity production in 2027 and military deployments in 2028.
X-energy has signed definitive long-term HALEU enrichment agreements with Centrus Energy to support its Xe-100 advanced SMR program. The secured fuel supply is vital for the company's massive 144-reactor commercial pipeline across the U.S. and U.K.