Nuclear Tomorrow - October 2026
Nuclear Tomorrow is a newsletter that is issued monthly to identify press reports on developments in the field of nuclear energy. Topics are selected for their relevance to the impact of nuclear energy on global warming. The newsletter is written for members of the general public who are concerned with policy related to these issues. Postings are categorized as dealing with Technology (T), Policy (P), and/or Construction (C). In some cases registration or a fee is required to access an article. Hyperlinks are provided to connect newsletter posts to the referenced publication. (See hot buttons associated with each posting) The newsletter is intended to expand on topics included in the book, “Nuclear Energy: Boom, Bust, and Emerging Renaissance,” which has recently been published by Oxford University Press. The author of the book and of this newsletter is Edward A. Friedman, Emeritus Professor of Technology Management at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. The book is available for purchase via the Oxford University Press Website. The following link provides access to the book:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/nuclear-energy-9780198925781?lang=en&cc=gb#
NOTE - A 30% Discount is available using the code AUFLY30
for purchases through Oxford University Press
1.
USA, South Korea targeting six APR 1000 and two APR 1400 units - ( C )
A 120 Billion USD framework agreement to build 6 Westinghouse AP1000 units and two South Korean APR14000 units in the US has ebeen outlined by the US Department of Commerce. This is part of a plan to have ten large reactors under construction by 2030. Deployment is planned for Federal Sites.
2.
Details emerge on Valar’s Utah’s plans ( C )
Valar Atomics, a nuclear start-up company, achieved criticality of its Ward 250 reactor on June 18, 2026 at the Utah State San Rafael Energy Lab. This was undertaken as part of the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program.The Ward 250 is a high temperature helium gas cooled reactor design that uses Triso fuel. Triso fuel consists of a uranium based fuel kernel surrounded by three distinct layers of carbon and ceramic materials that form an individual containment system for each particle. This milestone marks the achievement of a self-sustaining chain reaction, however it did not accomplish the generation of any output power. The Ward 250 is designed to produce output power of 25 megawatts electric.
At the beginning of October, Valar announced plans for a major energy center in Utah called Project Beehive in which 456 Ward 250 reactors would be constructed on 9,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land and would house co-located data centers and a fuel production facility. While Valar states that he hopes to begin non-nuclear construction in 2028, it has yet to demonstrate a working reactor nor has it applied for building permits. While the nominal output of the Ward 250 is 25 Megawatts, the stated output for the 456 realtors is 9.6 X 10 exp 9 Watts which implies a Ward 250 output of 21 Megawatts.
3.
Physicist raises alarm over proposed massive nuclear power project (P)
Dr. Robert Davies, a professor of physics at Utah State University has raised concerns about the thermal footprint that would be generated by Project Beehive. He points out that in order to produce 9,6 Gigawatts of electricity there would be a concomitant heat production of 14.4 Gigawatts. Given that the entire electric demand for Utah in 2024 averaged 4 Gigawatts, this is a massive amount of heat. Dr. Davies calls for regulators to evaluate the impact of that much heat over the site’s 9,000 acres.
4.
Google enters massive 3.6-GW power deal with Constellation Energy ( C )
Google entered into two long term power purchase agreements with Constellation Energy. One is a 20 year purchase agreement for 890 megawatts of electricity from multiple Constellation owned nuclear power plants which would be upgraded to produce more output. The second is a 15 year agreement for an additional 2,700 megawatts which is not tied to specific sources. 11 nuclear units designated to be upgraded to supply Google are in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
5.
A new type of small nuclear reactor gets the green light in Tennessee (T)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a construction permit to the Tennessee Valley Authority to construct a GE Verona Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor. This is just the second Generation IV reactor construction permit that has been issued. The BWRX-300 is a 300 Megawatt Electric reactor that is cooled by natural circulation - it does not require cooling pumps. It is also a fail safe reactor that does not require external power or operator intervention to maintain a safe state. Construction is projected to be completed in a much shortened time frame compared with larger reactors. This design and that of other GEN-IV reactors -
notably Terrapower and Kairos are expected to enable a surge in nuclear power construction that has been lagging in the western countries. BWRX-300 reactors are currently being planned for Ontario Canada, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, and Hungary.
6.
Joint venture formed for six-unit SMR plant in Poland ( C )
Poland’s SGE and ZE Pak have agreed to establish a joint venture to develop a nuclear power plant in Patnow which will feature up to six BWRX-300 small nuclear reactors.
7.
US to lend $4.2 billion to Vistra to boost nuclear power output, source says (P)
Utilities can increase their power output by using more enriched fuel, or a higher percentage of new fuel or through plant modifications. It has been reported that the Department of Energy will be loaning Vistra Corp about $4.2 billion to increase power output at three of its four reactors located along Lake Erie in Ohio.
This can be done without new licensing. This is part of a program to quadruple nuclear power output by 2050.
8.
Strategic investment venture in US to start with Texas mega plant (P)
The United States and South Korea will jointly pursue development of large scale energy sites starting with a large gas fired power plant. The long range plan calls for the development of eight nuclear power plants. Details are not yet available.
9.
New Floating Nuclear Plant Secures Uranium Supply (T)
A California-based startup plans to build compact, water-cooled nuclear reactors designed specifically for marine environments.
Bluecore is the first U.S. designed floating reactor concept to receive approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping. Bluecore is working with the Port of Long Beach, America’s second largest port, to develop small modular reactors that will be positioned on barges in the port to help reduce the carbon emissions from the port. A step in that direction was taken with the purchase of uranium for fuel from WMC Group. Bluecore and the Port of Long Beach are in an early stage of development.
10.
US DOE funding to accelerate molten salt reactor development (P)
The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment aims to achieve first criticality in 2027 at the Idaho National Laboratory. This will be the world’s first fast-spectrum molten chloride reactor to do so. The objective is to have high operating temperatures. An objective of this project is development of a sustainable source for civilian maritime nuclear propulsion.
11.
Rosatom signs floating nuclear power deal for Indonesia (P)
The Russian company Rosatom has signed an agreement to provide two of its FPU-100 floating nuclear reactors for Halmahera Island in North Maluku providing a total of 200 Megawatts of electrical power. This technology has been developed for Russia’s nuclear powered icebreakers. The business model involves Russia maintaining ownership of the reactors with Indonesia paying for the electricity that is generated.
12.
AEP, Amazon, and X-energy planning 12-SMR plant ( C )
American Electric Power (AEP) plans to install 12 Xe-100 80 megawatt electric reactors arranged in three groups of four. The Xe-100 is a pebble bed high-temperature reactor using TRISO fuel. The first deployment is planned for Dow’s Seadrift site on the Texas Gulf Coast.
13.
South Korea to invest in U.S. nuclear projects, including 8 large reactors (P)
South Korea will invest $120 billion in U.S. domestic nuclear projects. Plans call for deployment of two South Korean APR1400 reactors and six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. Specifics have not yet been announced but the eight reactors are to be built on federal land. Payments are anticipated by the end of the year to acquire long term lease agreements.
14.
AEP, Amazon and X-energy planning 12 SMR plant ( C )
American Electric Power and X-energy are planning a project in Indiana at a former coal plant. They envision building 12 80 Megawatt electric nuclear plants for a total of 960 Megawatts of electric power to meet data center needs of Amazon. The X-energy reactor is a high temperature gas cooled unit using TRISO fuel that is composed of enriched uranium coated with multiple layers of carbon and ceramic materials.
15.
15 Quick Facts About Nuclear in Emerging Markets (P)
This article provides a useful overview of facts relating to nuclear energy development - with links to expanded information sources. Key points that are made include:
31 countries have nuclear power with 29 more likely by 2030
Small Modular Nuclear reactors are operational in Russia and China but are not generally commercially available
Russia and China have pursued cooperation and construction agreements with dozens of country
Nuclear energy does initiatives do not convert to nuclear weapons programs
Spent fuel is manageable