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August 2026
- 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 of 2024 cut NRC fees for advanced reactors, opened foreign ownership and set 36 implementation milestones — 31 were done by April 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
The NRC licenses new reactors through staged safety, environmental and public reviews under Parts 50 and 52, with Part 53 still in development.
- 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: the complete guide
Small modular reactors are nuclear plants of up to 300 MWe built from factory-made modules. Who's building them, where, and what's actually 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
Fusion, explained: three ways to bottle a star
Tokamaks, stellarators and laser-driven inertial confinement are three routes to the same prize: net energy from fusing light atoms. Here is how they differ.
- 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.