Energy department hands out $800M in grants for small nuclear reactors

Two much atomic companies person been awarded ample grants by the Trump administration.

The Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec volition each person $400 million from the Department of Energy to physique tiny modular reactors based connected existing atomic fission technology. 

The TVA volition physique 1 300-megawatt reactor from GE Vernova Hitachi successful Tennessee, portion Holtec volition physique 2 of its 300-megawatt reactors successful Michigan. 

Tech companies person warmed to atomic power successful caller years arsenic their request for energy has grown alongside their AI ambitions.

The reactors to beryllium built are considered Generation III+ designs, which are refinements of existing designs that person been successful usage for decades. By shrinking them down to “small modular” size, the anticipation is that costs volition travel down arsenic parts are wide produced accumulation and engineering and operation crews go much acquainted with gathering them.

To date, though, only two tiny modular reactors are operational, according to the World Nuclear Association.