X-energy and SGL Carbon Sign 10-Year Graphite Supply Agreement, Kick Off Production for SMR Deployment
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy” or “the Company”) and SGL Carbon, LLC (“SGL”) have announced a landmark 10-year graphite supply agreement to support X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (“SMR”) program. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in the development of commercial-scale nuclear energy and strengthens the supply chain for advanced nuclear technologies in the United States.
The agreement includes an initial three-year contract valued at over $100 million, covering graphite supplies for X-energy’s first commercial deployment. This initial award is a critical component of a broader, long-term framework designed to ensure production readiness and continuity for future SMR projects. Together, X-energy and SGL aim to secure the materials necessary to execute X-energy’s 11-gigawatt (GW) commercial pipeline while establishing a robust, reliable supply chain for safety-critical reactor components.
Under the terms of the initial contract, SGL has already commenced production of graphite reactor components using its specialized NBG-18 medium-grain isotropic graphite. These components are destined for the first Xe-100 deployment—a proposed four-unit plant in Seadrift, Texas, developed in partnership with Dow and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The project represents a high-profile demonstration of SMR technology and underscores the growing role of small modular reactors in meeting the nation’s energy and decarbonization goals.
Beyond this initial deployment, X-energy has secured additional production capacity in SGL’s facilities to support future projects, including the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility. The Cascade project, planned as a 12-unit Xe-100 site in Washington State with Energy Northwest, is the first of several X-energy projects with Amazon, which together target at least 5 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2039. The long-term collaboration between X-energy and SGL is expected to ensure continuity of supply for graphite—a safety-critical material for reactor operation—and enable scalable production to meet growing demand across X-energy’s commercial order book.
SGL Carbon is a global leader in advanced carbon materials, operating 29 production sites across Europe, North America, and Asia. The company has extensive expertise in high-performance applications across multiple industries, including automotive, aerospace, energy, and semiconductors. Since 2015, X-energy and SGL have worked closely to qualify NBG-18 graphite for the Xe-100 reactor. Leveraging SGL’s experience in manufacturing graphite for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), the two companies have developed a solid foundation of technical knowledge, which has now transitioned into commercial-scale production.
“Scaling new nuclear requires partners who know how to execute and have done so repeatedly in the world’s most demanding industries,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “SGL brings decades of innovation in aerospace, automotive, energy, and semiconductor applications, and we are thrilled to bring that depth of experience into the new nuclear sector. Their expertise will be critical as we transition from development to full commercial deployment of the Xe-100.”
Andreas Klein, CEO of SGL Carbon, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership. “X-energy is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of small, modular, high-performance nuclear reactors for energy generation. They have achieved groundbreaking progress in recent years and are now moving into the implementation phase with projects with Dow and other prominent customers. We are proud to support this effort and contribute to a long-term, successful partnership. This milestone also marks SGL Carbon’s entry into a strategically important market for our products, opening new applications for our advanced graphite solutions.”
The X-energy–SGL agreement represents a significant step forward in fleet-scale SMR supply chain development. It complements X-energy’s broader strategy to build a resilient and scalable industrial ecosystem for advanced nuclear energy. Recent collaborations with global industrial leaders further support this goal. For example, X-energy has partnered with Doosan Enerbility to expand steel manufacturing capacity, and with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power to facilitate fleet-scale deployment collaboration. Additional agreements for IG-110 fine-grain graphite further diversify X-energy’s supply chain and enhance the reliability of critical materials for SMR construction.
Through this growing network of suppliers, X-energy is positioned to execute its 11 GW commercial pipeline on schedule while reinforcing a U.S. and allied industrial base capable of delivering advanced nuclear power at full commercial scale. By securing long-term graphite supplies from a trusted manufacturer like SGL, X-energy ensures that its reactors can be built and operated safely and efficiently, with a focus on high-quality materials and manufacturing standards.
The Xe-100 SMR is designed to deliver clean, reliable, and scalable nuclear power, making it a key solution for decarbonizing industrial and commercial energy systems. With SGL Carbon as a committed partner in the supply chain, X-energy is well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for advanced nuclear technology while supporting U.S. energy security and the transition to a low-carbon future.
As the nuclear energy sector continues to evolve, partnerships like the one between X-energy and SGL will be critical to advancing the commercialization of next-generation reactors. By combining technical expertise, industrial experience, and a commitment to supply chain resilience, both companies are helping to lay the foundation for a sustainable nuclear energy industry capable of meeting the world’s growing energy needs.
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