TerraPower has begun construction of its Natrium plant, described as the first utility-scale advanced nuclear facility built in the United States. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for the project, which the commission noted was the first commercial reactor approved for construction in nearly a decade and the first non-light-water design cleared in more than 40 years.
The Natrium design pairs a sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt energy storage system. That storage allows the plant to boost its electrical output for periods of high demand, giving it flexibility that conventional reactors do not have. The approach is aimed at complementing a grid that increasingly relies on variable sources of power.
The milestone arrives alongside other advanced reactor progress. NuScale Power received NRC approval for an uprated version of its small modular reactor design, becoming the second small modular reactor design cleared for use in the United States. Together the developments mark a shift from design and licensing toward physical construction in the advanced reactor sector.
Small modular and advanced reactors have drawn attention from utilities and large electricity users seeking firm, low-emission power. Interest has intensified as data centers and other computing operations search for dependable supply, prompting technology companies and utilities to explore contracts tied to next-generation nuclear projects that aim to come online over the next several years.
Source: World Nuclear News - https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/terrapower-starts-construction-of-first-us-utility-scale-advanced-nuclear-plant