Standard Nuclear and U.S. Department of Energy Sign Groundbreaking Agreement to Accelerate TRISO Fuel Production for 2026 Reactor Demonstrations
Standard Nuclear, Inc., a reactor-agnostic producer of TRISO (tristructural isotropic) nuclear fuel, announced a major milestone today with the execution of an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This first-of-its-kind agreement positions the company to rapidly scale its advanced fuel manufacturing capacity in support of TRISO-fueled reactor demonstrations scheduled for 2026. The signing marks a significant step forward in meeting national objectives outlined in recent federal actions, particularly Executive Order 14301 issued on May 23, which emphasized accelerating deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.
For several years, the DOE has been establishing a stronger framework to support the commercialization of advanced reactors and the specialized fuels they require. TRISO fuel—a robust particle fuel used in high-temperature reactors—is central to many of the next-generation designs intended to improve safety, boost efficiency, and support clean-energy goals. Although TRISO has been under development for decades, commercial-scale production remains a critical bottleneck for companies preparing to demonstrate advanced reactors. Standard Nuclear’s new OTA is intended to clear that barrier by bringing federal oversight, technical expertise, and national-lab support directly into the company’s existing production operations.
The Department of Energy maintains one of the world’s most extensive networks of nuclear infrastructure, including research reactors, fuel-fabrication capabilities, and specialized nuclear-materials facilities. Accessing this infrastructure—along with earning authorization to conduct sensitive operations—requires compliance with a wide range of federal regulations, DOE Orders, and DOE technical standards. For private companies, navigating these requirements independently can significantly slow progress. Under the newly executed OTA, Standard Nuclear will formally transition key operational components to full DOE oversight, integrating its processes and systems into the same high-rigor framework that governs federal nuclear facilities.
This transition is more than a compliance milestone—it enables a substantial expansion of Standard Nuclear’s TRISO fuel manufacturing throughput. With DOE oversight in place, the company can increase production volumes within its current facilities while ensuring adherence to the stringent standards required for fuel destined for demonstration reactors and future commercial deployment. The OTA is therefore not merely an administrative agreement but a mechanism that unlocks new capacity essential for timely reactor demonstrations in 2026.
To execute this transition effectively, Standard Nuclear is leveraging deep expertise from across the DOE complex. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the nation’s premier nuclear research laboratory operated by Battelle Energy Alliance for DOE, is providing technical assistance through a Strategic Partnership Project (SPP) agreement initiated earlier this year. INL has decades of experience supporting advanced reactor developers and fuel producers. Its collaboration with Standard Nuclear includes operational guidance, safety reviews, process validation, and technical evaluation to ensure the company’s fuel-production systems meet the full suite of DOE expectations.
In addition to INL’s involvement, Standard Nuclear is also receiving specialized support from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Y-12 National Security Complex. ORNL, with its longstanding heritage in nuclear materials, isotopes, and reactor technology, contributes critical expertise in TRISO microstructure, coating processes, and quality standards. Y-12, with its unique capabilities in nuclear security and precision engineering, is providing targeted training and technical assistance related to material handling, safeguards, and facility operations. Combined, this multi-lab support structure represents one of the most coordinated federal-industry collaborations to date for advanced fuel production.
Kurt Terrani, CEO of Standard Nuclear, emphasized the significance of the partnership and the alignment across the federal nuclear enterprise. “We’re proud to be the first TRISO fuel manufacturer to execute an agreement of this kind with the Department of Energy ahead of next year’s reactor demonstrations,” Terrani said. “The manner by which multiple parts of the DOE complex are working together to meet the mission and fulfill the clear national goal established in May is exactly the leadership the industry needed.”
Terrani’s remarks underscore the central challenge facing the advanced reactor sector: while reactor designs are progressing quickly, the supporting fuel supply chain must grow just as rapidly. Many advanced reactors—such as high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) and microreactors—require TRISO fuel due to its exceptional safety profile. Each TRISO particle consists of a kernel of nuclear material encased in several layers of ceramic and carbon-based coatings, creating a miniature containment system capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. Producing these fuel particles at scale involves sophisticated manufacturing processes, precision engineering, and stringent quality control. Standard Nuclear’s ability to increase throughput under DOE oversight is therefore a crucial step in enabling the broader advanced-reactor ecosystem.
Jess Gehin, Associate Laboratory Director at Idaho National Laboratory, highlighted DOE’s commitment to supporting the industry’s transition from research to deployment. “The advanced reactor and fuel technologies now moving into deployment all originate from decades of DOE research and development. Supporting industry through full demonstration and commercialization is central to our mission,” he said. Gehin’s statement reflects DOE’s broader strategy: bridging the gap between lab-scale innovation and market-ready technologies by collaborating with capable private-sector partners.
The new agreement also aligns with recent federal priorities emphasizing energy security, decarbonization, and the expansion of domestic manufacturing capacity for critical technologies. Executive Order 14301 directed federal agencies to streamline pathways for advanced reactors and ensure that the supply chains necessary for their deployment—including fuel production—are robust, secure, and scalable. Standard Nuclear’s OTA is one of the first major actions directly linked to those objectives, demonstrating how federal directives are translating into tangible progress.
Looking ahead, the company’s upgraded fuel-production capabilities are expected to play a central role in supporting planned 2026 demonstration reactors, many of which depend on TRISO fuel to validate performance, safety, and commercial viability. Successful demonstrations will be essential to proving next-generation nuclear energy’s ability to contribute to the United States’ long-term clean-energy strategy and its ability to compete globally in advanced nuclear technologies.
Standard Nuclear’s agreement with DOE therefore represents more than a single company milestone—it is a broader step forward for the entire advanced-nuclear sector. By combining private investment with federal oversight and national-lab expertise, the partnership creates a model for accelerating deployment of critical energy technologies while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security. As the industry moves closer to the 2026 demonstration timeline, the collaboration exemplified by this OTA will likely serve as a foundation for future public-private initiatives aimed at scaling advanced nuclear energy.
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