ZettaJoule Secures Aramco Services Support for High-Temperature Nuclear Reactor Development
ZettaJoule, Inc., a U.S.-based developer of advanced small modular reactor (SMR) technologies, has announced that it has received formal support from Aramco Services Company for the development of its high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) program. Aramco Services Company is an affiliate of Motiva Enterprises, LLC, which operates the largest petroleum refinery by throughput in the United States. The endorsement marks a significant milestone for ZettaJoule as it advances its next-generation nuclear technology toward commercialization.
The support was conveyed through a letter submitted by Aramco to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce. In the letter, Aramco emphasized that federal backing of ZettaJoule’s advanced reactor program would send a strong signal to the nuclear energy industry, industrial end users, and the global investment community. Such support, Aramco noted, would validate the technical merit of ZettaJoule’s reactor design and justify accelerated development and deployment efforts.
At the center of ZettaJoule’s technology platform is its proposed ZJ high-temperature gas-cooled research reactor. Unlike conventional water-cooled nuclear reactors, which are typically limited to producing heat at temperatures around 350 degrees Celsius, the ZJ reactor is designed to deliver process heat at temperatures of up to 950 degrees Celsius. This dramatic increase in output temperature—approximately 600 degrees Celsius higher than traditional designs—opens the door to a wide range of industrial and energy applications that have historically relied on fossil fuels.
High-temperature process heat is a critical requirement for many industrial sectors, including refining, petrochemicals, hydrogen production, steelmaking, cement manufacturing, and advanced materials processing. Today, these sectors collectively account for a substantial share of global carbon dioxide emissions, largely because the heat they require cannot easily be supplied by renewable electricity alone. ZettaJoule’s HTGR technology aims to address this challenge by providing a reliable, zero-carbon heat source capable of operating continuously at industrial scale.
The first ZJ reactor is intended to serve as a reference and demonstration unit, providing operational data and performance validation to support future commercial deployments. As a research reactor, it will also enable testing of materials, fuels, and system configurations under real-world high-temperature conditions. ZettaJoule expects this initial project to play a critical role in reducing technical and regulatory risk as the company moves toward broader market adoption.
According to ZettaJoule, Aramco’s endorsement underscores growing interest from the oil and gas sector in advanced nuclear technologies that can complement existing operations while supporting long-term decarbonization strategies. While historically associated with hydrocarbons, major energy companies are increasingly exploring nuclear energy as a means of providing reliable, emissions-free power and heat for both upstream and downstream operations.
“We are extremely pleased to receive Aramco’s endorsement and greatly encouraged by their recognition of the strong potential for our ZJ advanced SMRs to unlock new solutions for a wide range of industries,” said Mitsuo Shimofuji, Co-Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of ZettaJoule. “Support from a global energy leader of Aramco’s scale and technical sophistication reinforces our confidence that high-temperature nuclear reactors can play a transformative role in the future energy system.”
ZettaJoule’s leadership emphasized that the company is well-positioned to advance its reactor program with a combination of public and private support. Jeff Harper, Co-Founder, Executive Vice President, and Chief Commercial Officer, noted that momentum is building across government agencies, industrial partners, and investors as interest in advanced nuclear solutions continues to grow.
“This is an exciting time for our company,” Harper said. “We are fully prepared to move the ZJ reactor project forward with the backing of government programs and strategic private-sector partners. Our focus is on delivering a safe, scalable, and commercially viable reactor that meets real-world industrial needs.”
The ZJ reactor design builds upon proven technology rather than starting from a blank slate. ZettaJoule plans to modernize and adapt publicly available, safety-tested reactor concepts derived from the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The HTTR achieved first criticality in 1998 and reached full power operation in 2001, demonstrating the technical feasibility and inherent safety characteristics of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
By leveraging this established technological foundation, ZettaJoule aims to accelerate development timelines while incorporating modern materials, digital instrumentation, and advanced manufacturing techniques. The company believes this approach balances innovation with practicality, reducing development risk while meeting contemporary safety and performance standards.
Aramco indicated in its correspondence with U.S. authorities that it intends to remain actively engaged with ZettaJoule as the company progresses through the development and licensing phases of its reactor program. The energy major is evaluating potential applications for HTGR technology across its operations, including both upstream production and downstream refining and petrochemical activities.
For large industrial operators, the ability to generate high-temperature heat without combustion could significantly reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and exposure to volatile energy markets. In addition, nuclear-based heat and power systems offer long asset lifetimes and predictable operating costs, which are attractive characteristics for capital-intensive industrial facilities.
ZettaJoule’s announcement comes amid renewed global interest in advanced nuclear energy. Governments in the United States, Europe, and Asia are increasingly viewing SMRs and advanced reactor technologies as essential components of long-term energy security and decarbonization strategies. Federal initiatives aimed at supporting reactor demonstration projects, streamlining licensing processes, and strengthening domestic nuclear supply chains are helping to create a more favorable environment for companies like ZettaJoule.
With formal support from Aramco Services Company now in place, ZettaJoule believes it has strengthened its position as a credible contender in the emerging advanced nuclear market. The company plans to continue engaging with federal agencies, industrial customers, and strategic partners as it works toward deploying its first ZJ reactor and laying the groundwork for future commercial-scale installations.
As industries worldwide seek practical solutions to reduce emissions while maintaining reliability and competitiveness, high-temperature nuclear reactors such as ZettaJoule’s ZJ design may play an increasingly important role in bridging the gap between today’s energy systems and a lower-carbon future.
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