All articles tagged with #nuclear fuel
X-Energy, backed by Amazon, just won the first U.S. nuclear fuel license in more than 50 years, allowing enriched-uranium fuel production at two Tennessee facilities for the next 40 years with production slated to begin in 2028; the license supports Amazon’s plan to power AI data centers with carbon-free nuclear energy and comes alongside a $500 million Amazon investment in X-Energy for SMR development.
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected four companies—Oklo, Terrestrial Energy, TRISO-X, and Valar Atomics—to develop advanced nuclear fuel lines, aiming to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel supply, support reactor deployment, and enhance national security under the Trump administration's energy strategy.
NASA is testing a new nuclear fuel, americium-241, with a half-life of 432 years, to power deep space missions more reliably and sustainably, using Stirling generators in collaboration with the University of Leicester, potentially revolutionizing long-duration space exploration.
NASA is testing a new nuclear fuel, americium-241, which could outperform plutonium-238 in powering deep space missions, offering longer-lasting, reliable energy for spacecraft exploring the outer solar system. The innovative Stirling generator design allows for continuous operation with minimal wear and increased resilience, potentially revolutionizing space power systems and enabling longer, more ambitious missions.
Centrus Energy Corp has commenced enrichment operations at the American Centrifuge Plant in Ohio, becoming the first US-owned uranium enrichment plant to begin production since 1954. The facility is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and will produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is needed for advanced reactor designs. Centrus has completed the construction of a demonstration cascade of 16 centrifuges and expects to withdraw HALEU product later this month. With sufficient funding, the company plans to significantly expand production and bring a full-scale HALEU cascade online within 42 months.
The US and European countries are heavily reliant on importing nuclear fuel and compounds from Russia, providing Moscow with significant revenue as it wages war on Ukraine. These legal imports have raised concerns among experts and officials who argue that they are indirectly funding Russia's nuclear arsenal and complicating efforts to curb its war-making capabilities. The dependence on Russian nuclear products leaves the US and its allies vulnerable to energy shortages if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to cut off supplies. As nations seek to increase their production of emissions-free electricity to combat climate change, the challenge of reducing reliance on Russian nuclear products is expected to grow.
The US and European countries are importing significant amounts of nuclear fuel and compounds from Russia, providing Moscow with much-needed revenue as it wages war on Ukraine. These legal imports have raised concerns among nonproliferation experts and elected officials who argue that they are funding the development of Russia's nuclear arsenal and complicating efforts to curtail its war-making abilities. The reliance on Russian nuclear products leaves the US and its allies vulnerable to energy shortages if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to cut off supplies. As nations seek to increase production of emissions-free electricity to combat climate change, the challenge of reducing dependence on Russian nuclear products is expected to grow.