X-energy Expands in Maryland with New Advanced Test & Training Facility
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy”), a leader in advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology, has announced the acquisition of a property in Frederick, Maryland. The site will become home to a new integrated testing and training facility designed to support the commercial deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR). This move follows a $6.15 million state and local incentive agreement aimed at supporting X-energy’s growth across Maryland, including the retention and expansion of its headquarters in Montgomery County and a broader footprint in Frederick County.
The newly acquired 90,000-square-foot non-nuclear facility will serve a critical role in validating the performance and reliability of Xe-100 components under real-world conditions prior to full-scale manufacturing. Key features will include a Helium Test Facility (HTF) for full-scale systems testing in a pressurized helium environment and an Experimental Test Facility (XTF) for prototyping vital reactor components and materials. The site will also house a state-of-the-art, full-scale plant control room simulator, providing hands-on training for Xe-100 operators and maintenance technicians—similar to the simulator already operating at X-energy’s Plant Support Center in Frederick.
Governor Wes Moore praised the project as a boost to Maryland’s clean energy leadership. “X-energy’s expansion in Montgomery and Frederick counties is an investment in Maryland and in our state’s vital energy and sustainability sector,” said Gov. Moore. “While X-energy works to power our future, we will work hand in hand to ensure all Marylanders feel the benefits of clean energy for years to come.”
The $6.15 million in combined state and local support will come through job creation tax credits, conditional loans, and grants. Real estate broker Avison Young helped X-energy secure the Frederick County property. Renovations are slated to begin later this year, with initial testing at the XTF expected to start in early 2026.
X-energy also announced plans to consolidate and expand its headquarters operations in Montgomery County. The company will relocate from two existing Rockville sites to a new, centralized location at the Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, enhancing collaboration and supporting the growth of its Maryland-based team.
“X-energy was founded in Maryland, and we are proud to call this state our home as we enter a period of unprecedented growth,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “We look forward to working with Governor Moore and his team to build on the state’s long history of nuclear innovation by making Maryland a national leader in next-generation nuclear technology.”
In parallel with its Maryland expansion, X-energy continues to make major strides in deploying the Xe-100. The company’s first plant is under development at Dow Inc.’s UCC Seadrift Operations site on the Texas Gulf Coast, where it will supply clean, reliable electricity and industrial steam. A second plant is being planned in central Washington in partnership with Energy Northwest and Amazon. This initiative is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to bring over five gigawatts of new clean power online by 2039—advancing X-energy’s mission to deliver scalable, safe, and secure clean energy to meet growing domestic and global demand.
