The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted TRISO-X, a subsidiary of X-energy, a license for a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant. This permit, backed by investments such as those from Amazon, authorizes the commercial production of HALEU, low-enriched uranium. It is the first license for a new facility of this type in the country in more than five decades.
TRISO Fuel: Ceramic Spheres for Advanced Reactors ⚛️
The core technology is TRISO (Tri-structural Isotropic) fuel. It consists of uranium particles wrapped in multiple ceramic and carbon layers, forming spheres smaller than a millimeter. These spheres are integrated into pellets or graphite blocks. The layers act as miniature containers, retaining fission products and maintaining integrity at very high temperatures, a requirement for advanced modular reactors.
Amazon Invests: Will HALEU Arrive in Two Days with Prime? 📦
With Amazon among the investors, one might wonder if the business model will extend to nuclear fuel. Will we be able to subscribe to a monthly HALEU supply with free shipping? Perhaps future modular reactors will include a QR code reader for quick activation. However, considering regulatory timelines, next-day delivery is unlikely to apply to this particular product.