Archive
Nuclear energy news
152 articles, newest first.
October 2026
- Industry & Business
Google, Constellation plan 890 MW in nuclear uprates
Google and Constellation signed a 20-year deal to add 890 MW through uprates at 11 existing reactors, with the first increase expected by 2028.
- Policy & Regulation
DOE offers Vistra up to $4.2B for nuclear uprates
DOE offered Vistra up to $4.2 billion in conditional financing for nuclear uprates and modernization, with 433 MW of added capacity planned.
- New Builds & SMRs
India releases SMR-55 project report for 55 MWe reactor
NPCIL and BARC released the SMR-55 project report on October 1 for a 55 MWe indigenous reactor, a planning milestone, not construction approval.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 7 nuclear stories that mattered this week
TVA won a landmark SMR construction permit as US-Korea reactor plans, Holtec's Palisades application and new projects shaped a pivotal week in nuclear energy.
- New Builds & SMRs
Holtec files Palisades SMR safety report with NRC
Holtec filed a safety report for two proposed 340-MWe SMR-300 units at Palisades, completing the application package's second phase, not winning approval.
- New Builds & SMRs
US, South Korea outline $120bn plan for eight reactors
The US and South Korea outlined Project Power, a $120 billion framework for eight reactors, but sites, schedules and commercial terms remain unsettled.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC approves TVA’s Clinch River BWRX-300 permit
The NRC approved TVA’s Clinch River construction permit after a 14-month review, clearing the way for a 300-MW BWRX-300 but not authorizing operation.
- Industry & Business
Nuclear power for data centers, explained: every deal tracked
Which data centers run on nuclear power? Every Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft deal tracked: plant restarts, PPAs, uprates and SMR projects.
September 2026
- Fuel & Supply Chain
The U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, explained
U.S. uranium output reached 2.1 million pounds in 2025, but domestic mines supplied just 7% of reactor uranium deliveries as enrichment investment expands.
- New Builds & SMRs
Bailong 2 enters construction with first nuclear-island concrete
China poured first nuclear-island concrete for Bailong 2, starting a 6,637-cubic-metre foundation pour for a 1,250-MW CAP1000 reactor.
- Policy & Regulation
IAEA and IDB sign Latin America nuclear partnership
The IAEA and IDB signed a nuclear cooperation pact for Latin America and the Caribbean, where nuclear supplied 1.8% of power in 2025.
- Policy & Regulation
US, Japan and South Korea set SMR deployment plan
The US, Japan and South Korea announced an SMR deployment plan for third countries, but the September 23 release gave no projects or delivery dates.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 8 nuclear stories that mattered this week
Palisades' fuel-loading pause, a major US reactor-project split, and new milestones in Europe, Canada and Asia shaped this week's nuclear news.
- Operations & Safety
Fuel assembly incident pauses Palisades loading
Holtec paused fuel loading at Palisades after a used assembly tilted in the reactor vessel; all 204 assemblies must be loaded before startup can advance.
- New Builds & SMRs
Rosatom completes second reactor for Chukotka floating plant
Rosatom has completed the second of two 58 MWe RITM-200S reactors for a floating plant planned to supply a copper-mining cluster in Chukotka.
- Operations & Safety
Ontario awards C$3 billion in Pickering refurbishment contracts
Ontario has started Pickering refurbishment construction and awarded C$3 billion in contracts for Unit 5 work and turbine-generator replacements.
- New Builds & SMRs
Mochovce 4 starts power generation in Slovakia
Slovakia's 471-MW Mochovce 4 has started power generation, entering staged commissioning before grid synchronisation and a 144-hour full-power test.
- New Builds & SMRs
Singapore's nuclear future: policy, money and the industry map
Singapore is studying nuclear power, not building a plant. A guide to its laws, IAEA review, SMRs, fusion investments, financing and industry players.
- Policy & Regulation
IAEA lifts nuclear forecast again: capacity could triple by 2060
The IAEA projects global nuclear capacity could reach 1,284 GWe by 2060, 3.4 times today's fleet, with SMRs making up 28% of new builds in the high case.
- Industry & Business
Rolls-Royce Derby to build every Australian SSN-AUKUS reactor
The UK MoD's 2026 Defence Nuclear Enterprise update confirms Rolls-Royce's Derby plant will build reactors for every Australian SSN-AUKUS submarine.
- New Builds & SMRs
Bechtel splits with TerraPower on Natrium, files 200-job WARN notice
Bechtel quit TerraPower's $4B Natrium reactor in Wyoming after the partners failed to agree on the next phase, filing a WARN notice for ~200 Reston HQ jobs.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
USDA opened nuclear financing for rural co-ops, Blue Energy filed with the NRC, and fuel and reactor plans advanced from Vietnam to the UK.
- Policy & Regulation
USDA opens $175M rural co-op fund to buy, build, or restart nuclear
USDA opened a $175M loan and grant program for rural electric cooperatives to buy, build, or restart nuclear plants. Letters of interest open October 19.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Centrus and Antares sign multi-year HALEU supply contract
Centrus signed a multi-year HALEU supply contract with Antares Nuclear, with deliveries before 2030 and customer prepayments funding its Piketon expansion.
- New Builds & SMRs
Blue Energy files NRC application for Texas gas-to-nuclear plant
Blue Energy filed Part 1 of its NRC construction permit for a Texas gas-to-nuclear plant: gas turbines first, up to five BWRX-300 SMRs behind them.
- Policy & Regulation
UK opens Xe-100 design assessment, first HTGR in GDA pipeline
UK regulators will begin Generic Design Assessment of X-energy's Xe-100, the first high-temperature gas reactor in the pipeline, for a fleet of up to 6 GW.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Saudi Arabia's 110-million-tonne uranium claim lights up IAEA week
Saudi Arabia announced 110 million tonnes of uranium-bearing ore at Jabal Sayid at the IAEA General Conference, igniting fuel-security debate online.
- New Builds & SMRs
US Navy's first shore microreactor to power NWS Crane by 2028
The Department of War picked Naval Weapons Station Crane, Indiana for the Navy's first shore-based microreactor, targeting operation by September 2028.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Cameco signs exclusive offtake for all Paducah laser-enrichment output
Cameco will buy all future output from GLE's planned Paducah laser-enrichment plant under an exclusive offtake, anchoring demand for SILEX-made fuel.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
NNSA market-sounds ~4M lbs/yr of U.S. uranium through the 2040s
The NNSA wants ~4M lbs/yr of U.S.-mined uranium through the 2040s, more than double projected 2025 output. Producer registration closes Sept 15.
- New Builds & SMRs
Vietnam picks Rosatom for Ninh Thuan 1, Korea closes on Ninh Thuan 2
Rosatom signed two VVER-1200s for Vietnam Ninh Thuan 1, KEPCO accelerates on Ninh Thuan 2, and the IAEA delivered its INIR Phase 2 report — a first for ASEAN.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From a $100B-plus Korea-US reactor package to a Duane Arnold restart and Zaporizhzhia's grid return, this week's nuclear story was execution.
- Industry & Business
Google buys Loviisa nuclear power: 22-year PPA with Fortum to 2050
Google signed a 22-year PPA taking up to 50% of Fortum's Loviisa plant output through 2050, backing a EUR 1 billion life extension. Terms and dates.
- New Builds & SMRs
South Korea nears $100B deal to build eight US reactors
WSJ: South Korea is finalizing a $100B-plus US energy deal — up to eight reactors, AP1000 first then APR1400, plus a Texas gas plant for AI data centers.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Centrus to supply Radiant with HALEU for Kaleidos microreactors
Definitive multi-year HALEU supply contract: Centrus will fuel Radiant's Kaleidos microreactors, with unobligated US-origin deliveries before 2030.
- Policy & Regulation
DOE closes $1.9B loan to restart NextEra's Duane Arnold plant
US DOE closed a loan of up to $1.9 billion to NextEra Energy to restart Iowa's Duane Arnold plant, targeting a 2029 return under a 25-year Google power deal.
- Industry & Business
South Korea weighs $120B for eight US reactors in tariff pact
X is debating a reported $120B Korean plan to build eight US reactors under the tariff deal; Korean press confirms a framework, not the reactor mix.
- Operations & Safety
Zaporizhzhia plant reconnected to grid after IAEA ceasefire repairs
IAEA: Zaporizhzhia NPP back on Ukraine's grid after 7th ceasefire repaired the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line, ending an 18-day diesel outage.
- New Builds & SMRs
Analysts size Africa's SMR market at $105B, 15 GW by 2035
A Nuclear Business Platform analysis sizes Africa's SMR market at up to $105B and 15,000 MW by 2035, led by South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana and Kenya programs.
- Operations & Safety
Zaporizhzhia power line repairs resume under 7th IAEA ceasefire
A seventh IAEA-brokered ceasefire from Sept 5 allows repairs on Zaporizhzhia's sole off-site line, the plant's 26th blackout since the war began.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 8 nuclear stories that mattered this week
Palisades loads fuel as the NRC flags restart lapses, Rosatom signs Kazakhstan's first EPC, Tennessee licenses fusion and US uranium output triples.
- Operations & Safety
NRC finds two Green radiation-safety lapses during Palisades restart
The NRC issued two Green, non-cited violations to Holtec's Palisades plant over airborne contamination and missed dose evaluations during restart work.
- New Builds & SMRs
Unity microreactor goes viral in Australia's nuclear ban debate
A viral X thread on Deployable Energy's 1-MWe Unity microreactor, framed as 'banned in Australia,' drove a nuclear advocacy surge — here's the verified core.
- New Builds & SMRs
Rosatom signs EPC contract for Kazakhstan's first nuclear plant
Rosatom signed the EPC contract on 3 September for Kazakhstan's first nuclear plant: two VVER-1200 units totaling 2.4 GW near Lake Balkhash.
- Fusion
Japan picks Helical Fusion for JPY 60bn fusion demonstration
METI conditionally selected Helical Fusion and three others for a JPY 60 billion fusion program: stellarator demo targets, funding and the 2030s timeline.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
US uranium production more than triples in 2025
US uranium concentrate production rose to 2.1 million pounds in 2025, more than triple 2024 output, as drilling and industry employment also climbed.
- Policy & Regulation
Why nuclear power plants can't shoot down drones
US nuclear plants may detect drones but not defeat them: federal law reserves counter-UAS authority for a few agencies, and the NRC requires no drone defenses.
- Operations & Safety
Counter-drone defense, explained: how energy sites fight drones
Counter-UAS systems detect, track and defeat hostile drones. How the technology works, who builds it, and why energy infrastructure is the new front line.
- Policy & Regulation
Tennessee issues first state fusion license to Type One Energy
Tennessee issued the first fusion-specific state license in the US, clearing Type One Energy to break ground on its stellarator campus at Bull Run.
- Operations & Safety
Palisades fuel loading: Holtec restart timeline and what comes next
Holtec began loading fuel at Palisades, moving the 805-MWe reactor to Mode 6. Inspections and startup tests ahead of the first US restart from shutdown.
August 2026
- Fuel & Supply Chain
India and Uzbekistan advance long-term uranium arrangement
India and Uzbekistan reported progress on a long-term uranium supply arrangement as their leaders set a $5 billion trade target for 2030.
- New Builds & SMRs
Nature Outlook puts SMRs at center of AI power debate
Nature's Aug. 26 nuclear Outlook links small reactors to AI-era power demand while weighing cost, fuel, waste and regulatory limits.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
This week's six consequential nuclear stories span U.S. defense microreactors, a 13-project DOE fast track, European construction and climate-linked operations.
- New Builds & SMRs
Akkuyu 2 finishes primary-circuit welding in 73 days
Turkey's Akkuyu 2 completed primary-circuit welding after 73 days: reactor, steam generators and coolant pumps connected ahead of commissioning steps.
- New Builds & SMRs
US Army picks five vendors for Janus microreactors
The US Army selected five microreactor vendors for five bases under Janus, with up to $2.2 billion planned from fiscal 2027 through 2031.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
HALEU, explained: the fuel advanced reactors need
HALEU is uranium enriched above 5% and below 20% U-235 — the fuel most advanced reactors need, with U.S. supply still at demonstration scale.
- New Builds & SMRs
France authorises Gravelines site work for two EPR2 reactors
France has authorised EDF to prepare the Gravelines site for two EPR2 reactors, a step toward the six-unit programme but not a construction licence.
- New Builds & SMRs
Natrium timeline: every milestone from ARDP award to first power
Every dated milestone in TerraPower's Natrium project — from the October 2020 ARDP award to construction at Kemmerer and the 2031 completion target.
- New Builds & SMRs
NRIC picks 13 projects for Nuclear Energy Launch Pad's second round
DOE's NRIC picked 13 projects from 12 developers for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad on Aug. 24. Eight are first-time entrants; six will build on INL land.
- Policy & Regulation
Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, explained: DOE's private-build fast track
DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad lets private developers build reactors and fuel plants under DOE authorization, at INL or nationwide, with no NRC license.
- New Builds & SMRs
Westinghouse eVinci microreactor reaches zero-power criticality
Westinghouse completed zero-power criticality testing of its eVinci microreactor at the US NCERC with Los Alamos and Idaho National laboratories.
- Operations & Safety
Paks returns two reactors to nominal power as Danube rises
Hungary's Paks nuclear plant returned Units 1 and 3 to nominal power after low Danube levels constrained cooling water, restoring two of four reactors.
- Policy & Regulation
Gallup: 71% oppose local AI data centers, vs. 53% for nuclear
Gallup found 71% of Americans oppose a local AI data center, compared with 53% for a nuclear plant, complicating the race to add power.
- New Builds & SMRs
Doosan lands TerraPower Natrium contract: core barrel, guard vessel
Doosan Enerbility will forge the core barrel, guard vessel and internal supports for TerraPower's first 345 MWe Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
NRC opens hearing window for Orano’s Project Ike
The NRC opened a 60-day hearing window for Orano’s $5 billion Project Ike enrichment plant and targets a 12-month license review.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
FANCO tells NRC it plans HALEU fuel facility
FANCO docketed an NRC engagement plan for a Category II HALEU fuel facility supporting its 240 MWe EAGL-1 reactor and other customers.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Urenco breaks ground on New Mexico enrichment expansion
Urenco began a 2.1 million SWU expansion at its New Mexico enrichment plant, with first new cascades planned for 2032 and more through 2036.
- New Builds & SMRs
Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactor heads to Idaho
Radiant shipped its 1 MWe Kaleidos microreactor more than 1,000 miles to Idaho National Laboratory for a five-phase DOME test campaign.
- Policy & Regulation
Diablo Canyon receives $271 million nuclear credit payment
DOE paid PG&E $271 million under the Civil Nuclear Credit program to support continued operation of Diablo Canyon Unit 1 in California.
- New Builds & SMRs
Haiyang-3 completes hot functional testing
China completed hot functional tests at Haiyang-3 after 53 commissioning procedures, clearing a pre-fuel milestone for the CAP1000 unit.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
TerraPower's guaranteed-price reactor fleet, Cernavoda's drought shutdown, Spain's phase-out retreat and Aalo's criticality push made a week about bankability.
- New Builds & SMRs
Blue Energy and GVH advance 2.5 GW gas-plus-nuclear plant in Texas
Blue Energy and GVH advanced their 2.5 GW Texas gas-plus-nuclear plant: 1 GW of gas turbines by 2030, then up to five BWRX-300 SMRs from 2032. FID is 2027.
- Industry & Business
Nuclea buys Moltex reactor and fuel-recycling portfolio
Nuclea Energy signed a definitive agreement to buy Moltex's technology portfolio — the WATSS recycling process, the SSR-W waste-burner and 80 granted patents.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
NexGen breaks ground on Rook I uranium mine in Saskatchewan
NexGen broke ground on the Rook I uranium project in Saskatchewan — a four-year build toward 30 million lb/yr, backed by 239.6 million lb of probable reserves.
- Policy & Regulation
Spain extends Almaraz operating licence to 2030, delaying phase-out
Spain's government renewed Almaraz's operating licence to June 2030, pushing back phase-out shutdowns set for 2027 and 2028 while keeping the 2035 exit date.
- New Builds & SMRs
TerraPower names Hyundai E&C as EPC for up to eight Natrium reactors
TerraPower named Hyundai E&C as EPC for up to eight Natrium reactors with completion, price and performance guarantees, plus an SK Innovation Korea term sheet.
- New Builds & SMRs
Aalo turns its July 4 criticality into a reactor mass-production push
Aalo Atomics says its July 4 zero-power criticality validated its supply chain and it is expanding into a one-million-sq-ft factory to mass-produce Aalo Pods.
- Operations & Safety
Cernavoda shuts both reactors as Danube falls below cooling threshold
Romania shut both Cernavoda reactors after the Danube fell below the plant's 185-centimetre operating threshold, cutting nuclear output during drought.
- New Builds & SMRs
Tianwan 7 begins loading its first nuclear fuel
China has begun loading fuel into Tianwan 7, the first of 163 assemblies for a Russian-designed VVER-1200 scheduled for commercial operation in 2026.
- Research & Innovation
Prometheus says 32 partners. INL's own roster names 33.
Every press release says DOE's Prometheus AI-nuclear program has 32 partners. INL's own roster names 33 — and archived captures show it always has.
- Operations & Safety
Jellyfish Take Three Gravelines Reactors Offline
EDF shut three Gravelines reactors after jellyfish clogged cooling-water pumps, leaving one of six units at full power while a fourth ran at half output.
- Operations & Safety
Rosatom sends staff back to Iran's Bushehr plant
Rosatom has returned five specialists to Iran's Bushehr site, bringing its Russian staff to 25 as work continues on two new VVER-1000 units.
- New Builds & SMRs
Tianwan 8 completes cold functional tests
China's Tianwan 8 has completed cold functional tests, moving its 1,100 MWe VVER-1200 unit into commissioning before fuel loading.
- New Builds & SMRs
Slovakia’s Mochovce 4 Reaches First Criticality After 39 Years
Slovakia’s 471-MWe Mochovce 4 has reached first criticality after 39 years of construction, moving the delayed unit into testing before grid connection.
- Operations & Safety
Zaporizhzhia raises spent-fuel pool water levels
Zaporizhzhia's operators are raising spent-fuel pool water levels after 24 off-site power losses, buying more time if diesel supplies run out.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 7 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From China's eight-reactor approval to Zaporizhzhia's power risk, this week's nuclear news was about turning plans, fuel and regulation into operating reality.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
X-energy and Centrus sign HALEU deal for Xe-100
X-energy and Centrus signed a phased LEU and HALEU enrichment agreement tied to initial Xe-100 fuel needs across an 11.5 GW commercial pipeline.
- New Builds & SMRs
Oklo's Groves reactor reaches first criticality in Texas
Oklo says its Groves Isotope Test Reactor reached first criticality in Texas less than a year after groundbreaking under the DOE pilot program.
- Policy & Regulation
The ADVANCE Act, explained: what changed and where the NRC stands
The ADVANCE Act changed NRC licensing and fees. NRC’s dashboard showed 33 completed milestones and 3 in progress on September 28, 2026.
- Policy & Regulation
DOE nuclear funding, explained: every program paying for the buildout
DOE backs nuclear through loans, cost-shared demos, HALEU contracts and tax credits — $17.5bn in supply chain loans leads the 2026 lineup. The full map.
- New Builds & SMRs
Top SMR developers in 2026, ranked by what they've actually built
Updated August 2026: SMR developers ranked on construction, licences and firm orders. GE Vernova Hitachi leads; TerraPower adds a fleet EPC deal.
- New Builds & SMRs
NRC reactor licensing process, explained
NRC reactor licensing uses safety, environmental and public reviews. Compare Parts 50, 52 and the optional Part 53 framework, effective April 2026.
- New Builds & SMRs
China approves eight reactors across four nuclear projects
China approved eight reactors at four sites, pairing Hualong One 2.0 demonstrations with the first batch-built Guohe One project at Laiyang.
- New Builds & SMRs
How states procure new nuclear power
States buy new nuclear through a chain of planning, site readiness, competitive bids, financing, licensing and ratepayer review, not one approval.
Westinghouse files for IPO as Cameco touts AP1000 pipeline
Westinghouse Electric, owned by Cameco and Brookfield, confidentially filed for an IPO, disclosing a pipeline of up to 91 potential AP1000 reactors (~105 GWe).
July 2026
- Research & Innovation
China hot-tests first MW-class helium turbine for reactors
China's CNNC ran the first hot power-generation test of a megawatt-class helium Brayton turbine, a step toward higher-efficiency gas-cooled reactors.
- Fusion
CFS raises another $1 billion for commercial fusion path
Commonwealth Fusion Systems raised another $1 billion in equity, lifting total capital to $4 billion as SPARC assembly nears completion.
Nuclear vs Natural Gas: Which Is Better for Baseload Power?
For baseload power, nuclear is the stronger fit: EIA says reactors run as base-load units, while many gas combined-cycle plants are intermediate-load.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
DOE names five states for nuclear fuel-cycle campus finalists
DOE picked Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah as finalists for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses after 28 applications from 26 states.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
NRC clears Framatome Richland for TRISO fuel work
NRC approved Framatome Richland to handle under 10% U-235 and make TRISO fuel; Lightbridge and QNI also signed a HALEU supply MoU.
- New Builds & SMRs
DOE: four advanced reactors hit criticality in 2026
DOE says four advanced test reactors reached criticality in 2026, beating the July 4 Reactor Pilot Program target of three.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
TRISO fuel, explained
TRISO is coated-particle nuclear fuel that keeps fission products inside ceramic layers — the form many advanced reactors and microreactors now specify.
TerraPower becomes first advanced reactor company to join INPO
TerraPower joined the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations on July 21, 2026 — the first advanced reactor company admitted, backing the 345-MWe Natrium build.
- New Builds & SMRs
Oklo gets DOE startup authorization for Groves reactor
DOE authorized Oklo's Groves Isotope Test Reactor to load fuel and move toward first criticality after a just-over-10-month private-land build in Texas.
- Policy & Regulation
DOE picks 278 Genesis Mission projects; nuclear takes largest award
The US Department of Energy selected 278 Genesis Mission projects backed by $5B, with the $60M INL-led Prometheus nuclear project the largest award.
- Policy & Regulation
DOE puts $60M behind INL-led Prometheus to build reactors with AI
DOE awarded $60M over three years to the INL-led Prometheus project, a 32-partner push to apply AI across reactor design, licensing and construction.
- New Builds & SMRs
Power NJ Act, explained
New Jersey's Power NJ Act creates a competitive procurement path for at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear, with deadlines running to July 2028.
- New Builds & SMRs
Every Nuclear Plant Under Construction in the US in 2026
The NNN tracker shows one U.S. nuclear unit under construction in 2026: TerraPower's 345 MW Natrium at Kemmerer, Wyoming, with a 2031 completion estimate.
NNN Daily Brief — July 22, 2026
A $40M Intermountain-West nuclear corridor, two new Czech Rolls-Royce SMR sites, Ginna's licence-renewal filing, and a $7 billion M&A tally led the day.
NNN Daily Brief — July 21, 2026
Bulgaria's Kozloduy AP1000s got a bilateral push, Sweden's uranium law took effect, Serbia set its timeline, and microreactors found data-center buyers.
- New Builds & SMRs
New Jersey keeps its 1,100 MW nuclear procurement moving
Governor Mikie Sherrill keeps New Jersey's Power NJ Act on a procurement clock, with at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear and deadlines to July 2028.
- New Builds & SMRs
Mochovce 4 preparing for physical start-up tests
Slovenské elektrárne says Mochovce unit 4 has finished assembly and sealing and is moving into the physical tests that precede first criticality.
NNN Daily Brief — July 19, 2026
India's Mahi Banswara tender, New Jersey's 1,100 MW process, TRISO-X's Oak Ridge push, and Bruce Power's hot cell all pointed to execution.
- New Builds & SMRs
India turns Mahi Banswara into a 2.8 GW PHWR procurement
India's ASHVINI tender sets up 4 × 700 MW at Mahi Banswara, a ₹28,000 crore package that turns the country's PHWR plan into procurement.
- Industry & Business
The best nuclear energy news sources (2026)
Updated August 2026: eight nuclear news sources that matter — trade dailies, regulator feeds, and NNN's brief — ranked by what each does best.
NNN Daily Brief — July 18, 2026
Kola's site licences, Almaraz's extension, TRISO-X's grant, and newcleo's NRC plan all pointed to execution over theory.
- New Builds & SMRs
New Jersey sets timeline for 1,100 MW nuclear procurement
New Jersey's Power NJ Act sets a 1,100 MW nuclear procurement clock with 180-day, 60-day, 90-day and 12-month milestones.
- Policy & Regulation
Russia grants site licences for first two Kola units
Russia's regulator has granted site licences for the first two Kola nuclear units, clearing an early permitting step for the new plant.
NNN Daily Brief — July 17, 2026
TerraPower construction, TRISO-X fuel capacity, India's Mahi Banswara tender, and newcleo's licensing plan all pointed to execution over theory.
- New Builds & SMRs
TerraPower begins excavation at Kemmerer Unit 1
TerraPower says crews have begun excavation at Kemmerer Unit 1, moving the 345-megawatt Natrium reactor and storage system toward foundation work.
NNN Daily Brief — July 16, 2026
New Jersey's 1,100 MW procurement, Newcleo's NRC filing, House permitting bills, and Lufeng's vessel install keep nuclear execution in focus.
- New Builds & SMRs
New Jersey opens 1,100 MW nuclear procurement process
New Jersey launched a procurement program for at least 1,100 MW of new nuclear, giving the state its first competitive route to build.
- New Builds & SMRs
Newcleo lays out NRC licensing path for 200 MWe reactor
Newcleo filed a Regulatory Engagement Plan with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its 200 MWe LFR-AS-200, opening pre-application talks.
NNN Daily Brief — July 15, 2026
AP1000 licensing, Lufeng construction, Temelín life extension, and Australia-India uranium terms all show nuclear execution is the story.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC clears Westinghouse AP1000 exemption request
The NRC approved Westinghouse's AP1000 exemption request, removing a scheduling hurdle and keeping the design-certification renewal path open.
- New Builds & SMRs
China General Nuclear installs reactor vessel at Lufeng unit 1
China General Nuclear installed the reactor vessel at Lufeng unit 1, advancing a six-unit Guangdong buildout that could eventually supply 52 TWh a year.
- Waste & Decommissioning
The nuclear decommissioning market in 2026: size, players, pipeline
Nuclear decommissioning is an $8–11bn market in 2026: 220 shut reactors, a $120bn European pipeline, US trust funds near $100bn — and a restart wrinkle.
NNN Daily Brief — July 14, 2026
ALARA, Changjiang, Paks, and Ukraine show nuclear news is shifting from headlines to execution and supply-chain details.
- Industry & Business
IEA says data-center SMR deals hit 45 GW
The IEA says conditional off-take agreements between data centers and SMR projects have grown from 25 GW to 45 GW as AI demand keeps climbing.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC proposes removing ALARA from radiation protection rules
The NRC wants to replace ALARA with a graded approach and raise effluent dose limits, reframing how radiation compliance is judged.
NNN Daily Brief — July 13, 2026
India-Australia uranium exports, a $22.5B data-center nuclear pipeline, and a tighter uranium market dominate today's nuclear brief.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
India-Australia uranium deal tightens the fuel-supply story
Australia's uranium export pact with India lands as X commentators point to a tighter uranium market, India's 100 GW goal, and rising fuel demand.
- Industry & Business
GridMarket, Deployable Energy announce $22.5B data-center nuclear deal
GridMarket and Deployable Energy say a data-center nuclear partnership could reach $145 billion in lifetime value and 3 GW through 2035.
NNN Daily Brief — July 12, 2026
TVA's IRP, India's SHANTI consultation, and U.S. restart activity show nuclear execution moving from debate to procurement and plant restarts.
- New Builds & SMRs
TVA's 2026 IRP puts advanced nuclear in the grid plan
TVA's 2026 IRP models 1–5 GW of new nuclear capacity, signaling that SMRs are part of long-range load planning as demand grows.
- Policy & Regulation
NITI Aayog maps SHANTI Act 2025 implementation
NITI Aayog held a July 10 consultation in New Delhi with eight named officials and three workstreams on implementing the SHANTI Act 2025.
- New Builds & SMRs
The 5 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From AP1000 renewal to Chernobyl decommissioning, the week's five biggest nuclear stories all pointed at execution, not hype.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC lets Westinghouse seek AP1000 design certification renewal
The NRC says Westinghouse can seek renewal of the AP1000 design certification, keeping a reusable licensing path open for future reactors.
- Fuel & Supply Chain
Centrus signs $900M DOE task order to scale HALEU production
Centrus says it signed a $900 million DOE task order to commercialize HALEU output, with first capacity by 2029 and total value up to $1.07 billion.
- New Builds & SMRs
Core Analysis: The license path is the product now
The NRC's NEPA rewrite, Clinch River, and Poland's CfD request all point to the same shift: the licensing path is becoming part of the product.
- Industry & Business
Sizewell B lifetime extension terms agreed to 2055
Sizewell B will run to 2055 after EDF and the UK government agreed extension terms, including £800 million of refurbishment and a £70.50/MWh strike price.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC targets faster nuclear licensing with NEPA streamlining proposal
The NRC would narrow NEPA reviews to impacts it can regulate, add deadlines and page limits, and give applicants a faster review path.
- New Builds & SMRs
BWRX-300 vs AP300 vs Natrium: which SMR is actually winning?
BWRX-300 leads on deployment, AP300 banks on AP1000 heritage, Natrium adds storage. How the three highest-profile Western SMR programs compare in 2026.
- New Builds & SMRs
Natrium, explained: TerraPower's reactor with a built-in battery
Natrium pairs a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten-salt storage that boosts output to 500 MWe — and it's now under construction in Wyoming.
- New Builds & SMRs
The BWRX-300, explained
GE Vernova Hitachi's BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe boiling-water SMR — the first Western small modular reactor to reach construction, at OPG's Darlington site.
- New Builds & SMRs
Small modular reactors, explained: who is building them worldwide
Small modular reactors are factory-built nuclear plants of up to 300 MWe. Who is building them worldwide, which operate today, and what is under construction.
- New Builds & SMRs
Poland's Orlen Synthos seeks CfD backing for 14 BWRX-300 SMRs
Orlen Synthos Green Energy has asked Warsaw for Contract for Difference support covering a 14-unit BWRX-300 programme across three Polish sites.
June 2026
- Fuel & Supply Chain
DOE to offer $17.5bn in nuclear supply chain loans
The US Department of Energy is offering up to $17.5bn in supply-chain loans to rebuild the nuclear industrial base and back ten new large reactors.
- New Builds & SMRs
OPG seeks licence to operate first G7 small modular reactor
Ontario Power Generation has applied for a 20-year licence to operate the first BWRX-300 at Darlington — set to be the first SMR running in a G7 nation.
- Policy & Regulation
NRC opens environmental review of Holtec's Palisades new-build
The NRC has begun the environmental review of Holtec's plan to site two SMR-300 reactors at Palisades, pushing the Michigan project deeper into licensing.
- Fusion
Nuclear fusion, explained: three ways to bottle a star
Nuclear fusion combines light atoms and releases immense energy. How tokamaks, stellarators and laser-driven inertial confinement chase net power.
- Research & Innovation
US opens DOME, a first-of-a-kind microreactor test bed
Built inside the repurposed EBR-II containment at Idaho National Laboratory, the DOME test bed gives microreactor developers a fast track to fission testing.