NUCLEAR POWER Direct

Welcome to the January issue of NUCLEAR POWER Direct, a monthly e-newsletter from POWER magazine that provides important nuclear power news and information, including articles on new technology, operations and maintenance best practices, industry trends, innovative projects, and much more.

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NextEra Eyes Restart of Shuttered Nuclear Plant, Partners with GE Vernova on Gas Power Expansion | Facing a projected surge in power demand across the country, NextEra Energy is taking steps to potentially restart its shuttered 615-MW Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa as early as 2028, while also signing a new partnership with GE Vernova to develop natural gas generation projects that could be paired with renewable energy and storage.

TVA Taps Bechtel, Sargent & Lundy, and GE Hitachi for Clinch River SMR Nuclear Project | The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has selected Bechtel, Sargent & Lundy, and GE Hitachi to spearhead the initial planning and design phases for a potential BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at its Clinch River Nuclear site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The collaboration, announced on Jan. 23, will leverage an innovative contracting model designed to streamline project delivery, the utility said.

Bill Gates' TerraPower Has Deal to Use Nuclear Power for Data Centers | TerraPower, the nuclear energy company founded by former Microsoft CEO and co-founder Bill Gates, announced it has a memorandum of understanding with a major U.S. data center developer to deploy advanced nuclear reactors to power existing and future facilities.

In Case You Missed It: Virginia Officials Say State Will Be Home to World's First Fusion Power Plant | Virginia’s governor and other officials on Dec. 17 said the state has a plan for the world’s first nuclear fusion power plant. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) on Tuesday announced it will build a 400-MW fusion facility on a 100-acre site at the James River Industrial Park in Chesterfield County.

Santee Cooper Seeks Proposals to Complete AP1000 Units at V.C. Summer Nuclear Site | South Carolina’s largest power provider Santee Cooper has issued a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at finding a buyer—or visionary—to take on what remains of the Virgil .C. Summer Nuclear Station expansion. The two partially constructed AP1000 projects, abandoned in 2017 after a cascade of delays and cost overruns, could now offer a second chance to deliver much-needed carbon-free power at a pivotal time for the energy industry, the utility said.

Constellation Seeking Permit for Small Modular Reactor at Nine Mile Point | Constellation Energy said the company is applying for federal funding as it evaluates whether to put one or more small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) at its Nine Mile Point nuclear power plant in New York.

Lightbridge, Oklo to Explore Co-Located Advanced Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facilities | Two much-watched advanced nuclear fuel technology companies—Oklo and Lightbridge—will consider co-locating their commercial metallic fuel fabrication facilities to explore synergies and potentially accelerate innovation across the nuclear supply chain.

Nuclear-Gas Synergy: Oklo and RPower Unveil Phased Model to Address Data Center Power Demands | Advanced nuclear technology firm Oklo is partnering with Texas-based prime and backup solutions company RPower to roll out an innovative “phased energy model” that will combine natural gas and nuclear to offer a scalable and sustainable turnkey solution for data centers.

Estonia Choosing Site for Nuclear Power Plant with GE Hitachi Reactors | Estonia energy company Fermi Energia has begun the site selection process for that country’s first nuclear power plant, more than a decade after government officials initially approved construction of a reactor.

Sweden Begins Construction on World's Second Deep Geological Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel | Sweden has broken ground on its final repository for spent nuclear fuel (SNF)—a milestone reached after 40 years of research and development—making it the world’s second deep geological repository (DGR) now under construction.

U.S. Energy Independence—Let’s Recycle Our Nuclear Waste | As an energy veteran with decades at the Department of Energy, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of nuclear power in America. Now, with President Trump back in office, there’s an opportunity to not just revisit but truly revolutionize our approach to nuclear energy, particularly by closing the nuclear fuel cycle. This isn’t about starting from scratch; it’s about completing a cycle that’s been left open, and Curio’s NuCycle technology is positioned to be the missing piece.