The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale Power's uprated small modular reactor design, clearing a 77 megawatt-electric version of the company's reactor and marking another milestone for the domestic SMR sector. NuScale remains the only small modular reactor developer with full NRC design approval, and the uprated design increases the output available from its modular units.
The approval comes as several other SMR and advanced reactor projects move through construction and licensing. TerraPower broke ground on the first US advanced reactor at Kemmerer, Wyoming, where its Natrium sodium fast reactor secured an NRC construction permit. GE Hitachi's BWRX-300 stands as one of the most advanced new-build designs, with construction underway at sites referencing the design. Oklo broke ground at Idaho National Laboratory in September 2025 and signed an agreement to supply 1.2 gigawatts of power to a Meta campus in Pike County, Ohio.
Additional designs are progressing through the regulatory pipeline. X-energy's Xe-100, Kairos Power's reactors, and Holtec's SMR-300 sit at various stages of NRC review or pre-application engagement. The breadth of the field reflects strong interest from utilities and large power buyers seeking firm, carbon-free generation.
Small modular reactors are designed to be built in factories and assembled on site, an approach intended to lower costs and shorten construction timelines compared with conventional large plants. The NuScale uprated design approval strengthens the near-term options available to utilities evaluating SMR deployment across the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nrc-approves-nuscale-powers-uprated-small-modular-reactor-design