X-energy’s TRISO-X renews Oak Ridge fuel partnership to strengthen the domestic advanced nuclear supply chain
The United States has been able to remain the leading nuclear energy-producing country in the world with the help of companies that are willing to invest millions of dollars in groundbreaking projects. The nuclear sector as a whole was able to benefit massively from the integration of technology, which opened up the possibilities that developers have and allowed them to be more experimental with the projects that they pursue. In some instances, companies have failed miserably, but in other instances, they have elevated the U.S. nuclear sector even further. It was recently revealed that X-energy’s TRISO-X renews the Oak Ridge fuel partnership to strengthen the domestic advanced nuclear supply chain.
Assessing X-energy as a leading nuclear energy producing company
The United States’ dominance in the nuclear sector means that it has a multitude of companies that are recognized as leaders or pioneers. Among these is X-energy, a leading designer of advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) and fuel technology developed to establish a new standard in clean, safe, reliable energy.
The company’s intrinsically safe Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor and TRISO-X particle fuel expand applications for nuclear technology, with commercial projects across grid, industrial, and AI. Ultimately, X-energy’s technology has developed a reputation for driving improved safety, lower cost, quicker construction timelines, and scalable deployment when compared with other SMRs and traditional nuclear.
The United States operates the world’s largest nuclear energy fleet, generating approximately 18% to 20% of the nation’s total electricity and almost half of its carbon-free power through 96 commercial reactors. The landscape is currently going through a huge resurgence, which is fostered by increasing power demands from AI data centers and federal clean energy backing.
Strengthening the supply chain: X-energy’s TRISO-X renews Oak Ridge fuel partnership
A press release from X-Energy unveiled that TRISO-X, a leading manufacturer of advanced nuclear fuels and wholly-owned subsidiary of X-Energy, Inc., announced the extension of its cooperative research and development relationship with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The U.S. Department of Energy deserves a massive amount of credit for the projects that have materialized during the clean energy transition. In this instance, the finalized agreement entered into by TRISO-X expands on a strategic partnership that has played an essential role in progressing commercial-scale TRISO fuel development and manufacturing since 2016.
There are massive expectations about what the agreement can bring to the nuclear energy sector, with TRISO-X in a good position to establish a blueprint that other companies can adopt. The 30-month agreement leverages almost a decade of collaborative research, technology transfer, and process development that has allowed TRISO-X to advance fuel manufacturing at commercial scale.
Assessing the impact of the finalized agreement on X-energy and TRISO-X
For X-energy, the finalized agreement is yet another statement of leadership in the nuclear energy sector. Joel Duling, President of TRISO-X, stated the following after the finalized agreement:
“ORNL has been a critical partner in transforming years of TRISO fuel research into commercial manufacturing capability. For a decade, our team has relied upon the Lab’s world-class capabilities and specialized facilities to solve complex technical challenges, mature manufacturing processes, and build the foundation for commercial fuel production.”
Looking ahead: How pivotal will X-energy be in shaping future nuclear projects
The finalized agreement means that the company is able to proceed with operating its existing pilot facility on site at the Lab, where it focuses on driving the transition of TRISO fuel from laboratory success to global commercial reality. X-energy is expected to be at the center of shaping next-generation power strategies.
A combination of ORNL’s foundational nuclear science and TRISO-X’s advanced process and chemical engineering actively optimizes fuel fabrication to improve fuel quality and yield and enhances characterization methods and streams.
ORNL’s partnership with TRISO-X shows how national laboratories assist in accelerating the transition of transformative technologies from research to commercial application. The companies will be hoping for more success in the future.
Prince is a versatile writer focused on energy, automotive, environmental, and general news topics. He makes complex technical and policy issues clear, engaging, and accessible for a broad audience.
