X-energy and TRISO-X Begin Vertical Construction on First-of-its-Kind Advanced Nuclear Fuel Facility in the United States
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy”), together with its wholly owned subsidiary TRISO-X, LLC (“TRISO-X”), has reached a major milestone in the development of the nation’s most advanced nuclear fuel production capability. The companies announced the start of above-ground vertical construction for TX-1, an advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility now rising in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As the first facility in the United States dedicated exclusively to producing fuel for next-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), TX-1 represents a critical step forward for the U.S. nuclear energy sector and the growing demand for carbon-free, reliable power.
TX-1 will manufacture X-energy’s proprietary tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel, a high-performance fuel form widely regarded as one of the safest and most robust ever developed. The new plant will support X-energy’s first proposed deployment of the Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor in partnership with Dow Inc. along the Texas Gulf Coast under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. In addition to Dow, the facility will supply TRISO fuel for future Xe-100 deployments and additional customers as X-energy expands its footprint across U.S. and international markets.
Joel Duling, President of TRISO-X, emphasized the significance of this moment for both the company and the broader nuclear industry. “The start of vertical construction marks another significant milestone in bringing our bold vision for the future of nuclear energy to life,” Duling said. “As TX-1 takes shape, it will stand as a symbol of our team’s relentless dedication and determination to bring this transformative project forward in just a few years, not decades.” His comments reflect the company’s mission to accelerate nuclear innovation and meet the growing need for advanced energy solutions that can support industrial operations, data centers, manufacturing, and power-intensive sectors seeking low-carbon alternatives.
Earlier in the year, X-energy awarded a $48.2 million contract to Clark Construction Group for the completion of the core and shell of the 214,812-square-foot facility. The transition to vertical construction signifies a shift from preliminary site development to full-scale building activity. This phase of construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026, keeping the facility on track to begin supplying advanced nuclear fuel shortly thereafter.
Once operational, TX-1 will be the first Category II Fuel Fabrication Facility ever licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the first new U.S. fuel fabrication plant of any kind built in more than half a century. Designed for an annual production capacity of approximately 5 metric tons of uranium—equivalent to about 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles—the facility will be capable of supplying fuel for up to 11 Xe-100 reactors per year. TRISO-X continues to collaborate closely with the NRC to ensure an efficient, transparent, and thorough review of the license application. Regulatory approval is anticipated by May 2026, aligning with the facility’s construction schedule.
In parallel with construction and licensing activities, X-energy has also advanced the fuel qualification process. Confirmatory testing of TRISO-X pebbles is underway at the Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor. Conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Reactor Innovation Center, the rigorous 13-month program evaluates the performance of TRISO fuel under a broad range of operating conditions, including high power levels, extreme temperatures, and varying burn-up rates. Notably, this is the first time a commercially produced SMR fuel form has undergone such comprehensive testing, demonstrating X-energy’s commitment to safety, reliability, and regulatory excellence.
Beyond TX-1, X-energy continues to progress several major deployment projects. The company’s flagship initiative is the proposed four-unit Xe-100 plant at Dow Inc.’s UCC Seadrift Operations site on the Texas Gulf Coast. Once completed, the Xe-100 reactors are expected to provide Dow with a safe, reliable, and emissions-free source of power and industrial steam—strengthening the chemical manufacturer’s efforts to decarbonize operations while increasing energy resiliency.
X-energy is simultaneously developing its second Xe-100 project, known as the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, in partnership with Energy Northwest and supported by Amazon. This project forms part of Amazon’s broader strategy to enable more than five gigawatts of new clean energy capacity by 2039, helping the company meet the rapidly growing electricity demand associated with cloud services, artificial intelligence, e-commerce operations, and large-scale logistics networks. Together, these initiatives underscore X-energy’s ambition to deliver scalable, secure, and flexible clean energy solutions that can serve diverse industries across the United States and globally.
The momentum behind TX-1 illustrates the crucial role advanced nuclear technologies are set to play in future energy systems. As industries seek dependable power sources that can help meet decarbonization goals while supporting continuous, high-demand operations, advanced reactors such as the Xe-100—paired with domestically produced TRISO fuel—offer a compelling option. The start of vertical construction at TX-1 marks a pivotal moment in this transition, signaling the emergence of a new era in U.S. nuclear manufacturing and placing Oak Ridge once again at the forefront of nuclear innovation.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com/
