The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has reached an important step in its plan to build a new type of nuclear research reactor on campus. The has officially approved a key safety report related to the fuel that will be used in the KRONOS microreactor, developed by . After a thorough review, the NRC confirmed the testing methodology planned for ensuring safe, reliable fuel performance. This approval moves the project significantly closer to becoming a reality.
The report outlines how the fuel will be tested and approved for use. The fuel itself is made from tiny, coated particles packed into a tough ceramic material, designed to be especially safe and efficient for small, advanced reactors like KRONOS.
Illinois professor , of the Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering department and head of the at U. of I., noted that, “Fuel is one of the biggest sources of uncertainty in any advanced nuclear project. This favorable regulatory outcome represents a significant reduction in that uncertainty for our project, and the SE (Safety Evaluation) establishes a common language between us and the regulator on how the fuel will be shown, with high assurance, to be safe and effective.”
“This is a major victory for advanced nuclear energy and a transformative moment for NANO Nuclear,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer at NANO Nuclear Energy. “With the NRC’s final approval of the FQM Topical Report, we are in an excellent position to move forward with the Construction Permit (CP) application. This milestone is a critical enabler for our entire reactor program and affirms the strength of our fuel strategy.”
“With this regulatory foundation in place, we are prepared to execute,” said Dr. Florent Heidet, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development for NANO Nuclear. “Our next steps include finalizing fuel fabrication timelines, preparing and submission of the construction permit this year, and completing early-stage site work at U. of I., including geotechnical drilling and environmental assessments. We will keep accelerating until the reactor is operating.”
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