TerraPower, Bill Gates’ advanced nuclear energy company, has received positive developments regarding its construction permit for the Natrium reactor project in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has further expedited its review schedule, signaling progress for the innovative sodium-cooled fast reactor design.
Key Takeaways
- The NRC has shortened its review timeline for TerraPower’s construction permit application for the Natrium reactor.
- The agency now aims to issue the final safety evaluation and environmental impact statement by December 31.
- This accelerated schedule is attributed to productive engagement with TerraPower and consideration of an executive order on NRC reform.
- Several technical topics remain to be resolved before the permit can be finalized.
Accelerated NRC Review
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced an accelerated timeline for reviewing TerraPower’s construction permit application for its proposed Natrium reactor and energy storage system in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This marks the second instance of the NRC shortening its review schedule for the project. Initially, the NRC had planned to complete the review by August 2026, but in February, they indicated an earlier completion by June 2026. Now, a letter dated July 1 states the NRC is targeting December 31 for the issuance of the final safety evaluation and the final environmental impact statement (EIS).
The NRC attributed the expedited review to "frequent and productive engagements" with TerraPower, as well as the consideration of President Trump’s Executive Order 14300, aimed at reforming the NRC.
Unresolved Technical Topics
Despite the accelerated schedule, several technical areas require further resolution before the NRC can complete its review and issue the construction permit. These include:
- Materials qualification and the appropriate identification of special treatments for safety-significant structures, systems, and components.
- The treatment of preventative controls under the licensing modernization project (LMP) approach.
- Documentation supporting the probabilistic risk assessment used in the LMP and other licensing programs.
- The design and safety classification of the pool immersion cell and associated systems.
- The safety basis for non-safety-related seismic/structural design approaches requiring special treatment.
Additionally, to finalize the environmental review, the NRC requires the completion of a Section 106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act and the resolution of any substantive comments on the draft EIS.
The Natrium Reactor Project
TerraPower’s Natrium reactor is a 345-MW sodium fast reactor designed to integrate with an innovative molten salt energy storage system, offering gigawatt-scale energy storage. This design aims to support grids with high renewable energy penetration, where variable power output can be a concern. The demonstration plant will serve to test and validate first-of-a-kind equipment for the reactor. The project is a public-private partnership between TerraPower and the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Bill Gates, chairman of TerraPower, broke ground on the project in Kemmerer in June 2024. The site is adjacent to PacifiCorp’s Naughton Power Plant, which is transitioning away from coal. Gates has emphasized the project’s role in advancing safe, abundant, and zero-carbon energy for America’s future. The project is expected to cost up to $4 billion, with half funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Future reactors are anticipated to have lower costs due to initial design and licensing expenses.
