The small modular reactor sector reached new regulatory milestones in 2026 as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale Power's uprated reactor design and granted TerraPower a permit to begin construction of an advanced reactor.
The NRC approved NuScale's 77 megawatt-electric reactor design, making it the second small modular reactor design cleared by the agency. The approval means companies can reference the uprated power module when they apply for combined licenses or construction permits to build the reactors at specific sites. NuScale is performing front end engineering work for a 462 megawatt-electric plant abroad and has 12 power modules in production with its manufacturing partner.
TerraPower advanced on a separate track. The NRC granted the company a permit to begin building what it describes as the world's first commercial plant based on its advanced reactor technology. The company's chief executive said construction would start within the month, with the facility located in Wyoming and expected to begin operating as a demonstration reactor by 2030.
Other developers are pursuing novel licensing approaches. Oklo, a pre revenue startup, is pursuing a combined construction and operation license intended to accelerate its development timeline. The momentum has been reinforced by demand from large technology companies, which have collectively committed to more than 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity to power computing operations. The combination of design approvals, construction permits, and corporate commitments marks a turning point for a reactor class that had spent years in development.
Source: US Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nrc-approves-nuscale-powers-uprated-small-modular-reactor-design