Sunday, February 01, 2026

 World Nuclear News


Saskatchewan to evaluate large nuclear reactor technologies



The Government of Saskatchewan and utility SaskPower have announced plans to formally evaluate large nuclear reactor technologies for use in the Canadian province. Saskatchewan already has plans for the deployment of small modular reactors.
 
SaskPower President and CEO Rupen Pandya (Image: SaskPower)

In October last year, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, setting out its vision and long-term strategy for electricity in the province. The plan sees the provincial government reiterate its commitments to nuclear power, as communicated in the provincial Growth Plan and the Interprovincial Strategic Plan on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Specifically, it says, the Government of Saskatchewan will continue to examine the feasibility of two SMR units near Estevan, and evaluate the feasibility of large reactors and/or advanced SMRs to meet industry demand for electricity and heat to identify if either can be economically deployed in Saskatchewan.

Crown utility SaskPower has now begun the formal process to evaluate large reactor technologies. The technology selection process will take place in parallel with SaskPower's existing SMR project.

"Our Energy Security Strategy sets out a pathway to nuclear power generation from both SMRs and large nuclear reactors, using Saskatchewan uranium," said Minister Responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison. "Together with expanded intertie capacity, nuclear power will make Saskatchewan an export powerhouse and safeguard Saskatchewan's energy security far into the future."

"SaskPower will leverage partnerships with experienced nuclear operators, and will continue to engage with Indigenous Rightsholders, Saskatchewan's communities and businesses as we consider the potential deployment of large nuclear reactors," SaskPower President and CEO Rupen Pandya said. "Potentially bringing a large reactor online will take at least 15 to 20 years, which is why we need to start this process now."

SaskPower has previously selected GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in the province in the mid-2030s. It announced in 2024 that it had identified two potential sites for SMR deployment, both in the Estevan area in the south-east of the province. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with Cameco and Westinghouse to explore technical and commercial pathways to deploy Westinghouse's reactor technology, including the advanced AP1000 reactor and AP300 SMR for long-term electricity supply planning.

Saskatchewan is home to the largest and highest-grade uranium mines in the world, but does not currently have any nuclear power reactors. It is working alongside the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta on the deployment of SMRs under a joint strategic plan released in 2022.

"Significant additional regulatory, siting and engagement work are needed before any construction can begin on a new nuclear project," SaskPower noted. "SaskPower's current SMR project continues to progress and a site for the province's first SMR build near Estevan is anticipated later this year."

Strategic agreements for US cobalt-60 supply chain


Westinghouse Electric Company, Nordion (Canada) Inc, and PSEG Nuclear LLC have announced key milestones in their joint initiative to establish the first commercial-scale production of cobalt-60 in US pressurised water reactors.
 
(Image: Westinghouse)

The three companies have entered into long-term agreements to implement newly developed cobalt-60 (Co-60) production technology for pressurised water reactors (PWRs) at units 1 and 2 of PSEG's Salem nuclear power plant in New Jersey, with Co-60 planned to be supplied to Nordion. They also announced that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing PSEG's Licence Amendment Request. The partners are targeting implementation of the technology in 2026, subject to NRC authorisation and plant operating schedules.

"The successful implementation of this technology at Salem will lay the groundwork for broader deployment across the global PWR fleet, which makes up more than 70% of the world's commercial reactors, and will help anchor a scalable, resilient cobalt-60 supply network," Westinghouse said. "The first commercial-scale implementation of cobalt-60 production in PWRs signals a transformative step toward a secure, diversified domestic cobalt-60 supply."

Most of the world's supply of Co-60 is produced by irradiation of naturally occurring cobalt-59 in Candu reactors, mainly in Canada but also in Argentina, China and South Korea. It is also produced in RBMK reactors and the BN-800 fast neutron reactor in Russia.

Co-60 is used to sterilise around 40% of the world's single-use medical devices, including syringes, catheters, IV sets, surgical gloves and gauze used in a wide range of health care applications. It is also used in cancer treatment.

"Creating a robust domestic source of cobalt-60 builds on our longstanding ability to ensure reliability of supply for our customers," said Riaz Bandali, President of Nordion, a subsidiary of Sotera Health. "Our collaboration with Westinghouse and PSEG comes at a critical time as demand for cobalt-60 is increasing while accelerator-based irradiation technology is facing significant challenges in deployment and adoption."

"PSEG is proud to participate in a project that highlights the versatility and value of nuclear energy," said Charles McFeaters, President and Chief Nuclear Officer at PSEG Nuclear. "Producing cobalt-60 at the Salem nuclear generating station while providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity showcases innovative opportunities for nuclear energy and an important new role in strengthening global healthcare."

Sophie Lemaire, interim co-president of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel, added: "Deploying cobalt-60 production technology into pressurised water reactors marks a significant milestone, extending cobalt-60 production to a new reactor platform for the first time. This advancement strengthens global supply and demonstrates how commercial nuclear energy can support critical healthcare infrastructure."

EDF and Framatome announced in November last year the launch of a feasibility study aimed at producing cobalt-60 in one of EDF's nuclear reactors. The companies plan to insert capsules containing cobalt-59 in a PWR in France. Framatome will manufacture the specialised irradiation devices at its European facilities. A first loading of demonstration capsules is scheduled for 2026, with the goal of validating technical feasibility before 2030.

In December 2021, Framatome signed a memorandum of understanding with US utility Exelon Generation to cooperate on technology development and assess the feasibility and economics of Co-60 production in PWR reactors. Earlier in 2021, Westinghouse and EDF signed an MoU on the production of Co-60 in selected PWRs owned and operated by EDF in France.

NextEra considering new nuclear capacity


US utility NextEra Energy said it could add up to 6 GWe of small modular reactor generating capacity at its existing nuclear power plant sites or potential new sites, primarily to meet demand from data centres.
 
Point Beach (Image: NextEra)

Speaking during a call with investors on Tuesday, NextEra CEO John Ketchum said its NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary "remains focused on both optimising and adding generating capacity to its nuclear fleet. We continue to advance the recommissioning of our Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa, made possible by the 25-year power purchase agreement with Google we announced last year. Our nuclear fleet outside Florida is also ripe for advanced nuclear development.

"That's why we are spending time closely evaluating the capabilities of various SMR OEMs. All told, we have 6 gigawatts of SMR co-location opportunities at our nuclear sites and are working to develop new greenfield sites. Of course, any nuclear new build would have to include the right commercial terms and conditions with appropriate risk-sharing mechanisms that limit our ultimate exposure."

NextEra Energy Resources, along with its affiliate company Florida Power & Light Company, operates seven nuclear units at four sites: Turkey Point and St Lucie in Florida; Seabrook in New Hampshire; and Point Beach in Wisconsin. Additionally, it plans to restart the Duane Arnold plant in Iowa, which ceased operations in 2020. The plant is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of 2029, pending regulatory approvals.

In October last year, NextEra Energy signed two agreements with Google, including a 25-year purchase power agreement (PPA) from the Duane Arnold plant, as well as agreeing to explore the development of new nuclear generation to be deployed in the USA.

NextEra announced in December an expansion of its collaboration with Google Cloud. Together, the companies plan to jointly develop multiple new gigawatt-scale data centre campuses with accompanying generation and capacity. According to NextEra, the companies are already in the process of developing their first three campuses and are working to identify additional locations. Also in December, NextEra announced it had reached about 2.5 GW of clean energy contracts with Meta through the signing of 11 PPAs, mainly from nine solar projects.

"Our breadth and depth allow us to have a multi-year, multi-gigawatt, multi-technology discussion with hyperscalers," Ketchum said. "These data centre hub opportunities, as we call them, represent a powerful channel to originate large generation projects with expansion opportunities where we can grow alongside our hyperscaler partner rather than building on a project-by-project basis.

"As we discussed in December, our data centre hub strategy is all part of our new '15 by 35' origination channel and goal for Energy Resources to
place in service 15 gigawatts of new generation for data centre hubs by 2035."

He added: "We currently have 20 potential hubs we are discussing with the market, and we expect that number to rise to 40 by year end. While we won't convert every single hub, I'll be disappointed if we don't double our goal and deliver at least 30 gigawatts through this channel by 2035."

PEJ signs first loan agreement with US export credit agency


Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe has signed a loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, giving the Polish company greater flexibility in implementing design works planned in 2026 for the country's first nuclear power plant.
 
(Image: PEJ)

The agreement was concluded as part of the US Export-Import Bank's (US EXIM's) Engineering Multiplier Program (EMP), which aims to finance preparatory and engineering works for projects carried out with the participation of US companies. The loan will increase Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe's (PEJ's) liquidity by enabling it to refinance part of the works previously performed by the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium under an Engineering Development Agreement.

The Engineering Multiplier Program covers financing for key works carried out prior to the commencement of the construction phase, including feasibility analyses and selected engineering and environmental services. It is intended for projects with high potential for generating further export orders from the US and supports the preparation of projects for subsequent stages of financing.

Negotiations with US EXIM were conducted with the support of specialised law firms. The agreement complies with OECD guidelines and is secured by PEJ assets. PEJ said the agreement in its current form fully covers the needs and risks of the nuclear project. Bank Pekao SA, acting as the facility agent, is also a party to the agreement.

"We are consistently moving from letters of intent to first agreements," said Marek Woszczyk, President of the Management Board of PEJ. "The agreement we signed with US EXIM is another example demonstrating the credibility of the Polish nuclear project. The formal inclusion of the US export credit agency in the project also opens the way for us to sign further financing agreements with international institutions."

"This agreement demonstrates EXIM's commitment to unleashing US energy molecules and technologies to every corner of the globe," said US EXIM Acting First Vice President and Vice Chairman Jim Burrows. "By financing US technical expertise for Poland's nuclear development, we're supporting American jobs and proving that American innovation leads in the industries of the future."

"The conclusion of the loan agreement is the next stage in PEJ's cooperation with US EXIM, following the previously issued letter of intent for USD17.8 billion, confirming the US agency’s real commitment to the delivery of the project of Poland’s first nuclear power plant," PEJ said. "The current agreement is operational in nature and confirms US EXIM's readiness to continue supporting the project in its subsequent phases."

To date, PEJ has signed letters of intent with 11 export credit agencies from Europe, North America, and Asia, worth more than PLN100 billion (USD28 billion). The financing structure for the nuclear power plant project in the Choczewo commune assumes that debt financing will account for 70% of the investment cost, with the remainder secured with funds from the state budget.

In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland. In September 2023, Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ - a special-purpose vehicle 100% owned by Poland's State Treasury - signed an 18-month engineering services contract under which Westinghouse and Bechtel will finalise a site-specific design for a plant featuring three AP1000 reactors. In April last year, PEJ and the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium agreed the terms and conditions of an Engineering Development Agreement (EDA) after the previous agreement expired.

On 29 December, PEJ announced it had signed an amendment to the EDA with the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium. The amended scope of the agreement provides for the continuation of design works covering the nuclear island, turbine island, and the balance of plant, as well as further in-depth geological survey campaigns. This, it said, allows it to maintain the project schedule by advancing the power plant design and continuing field works, while simultaneously conducting negotiations and finalising the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract, "which will ultimately determine our cooperation with the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium".

The Polish government intends to support this investment through: an equity injection of about EUR14 billion covering 30% of the project's costs; state guarantees covering 100% of debt taken by PEJ to finance the investment project; and a two-way contract for difference (CfD) providing revenue stability over the entire lifetime of the power plant of 60 years. 

The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.

KHNP seeks site for new nuclear power plant



Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has launched a bidding process to select the host cities or towns for two new large nuclear power reactors. The announcement came just days after the government confirmed plans to construct the reactors by 2038.
 
KHNP's headquarters in Gyeongju (Image: KHNP)

"The bid for the new nuclear power plant candidate site will be promoted through a local government-led initiative," Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) said.

Heads of local government have until 30 March to submit applications to host the planned reactors, which will have a combined generating capacity of 2.8 GWe.

KHNP said it has "established a site selection committee comprised of external experts to ensure fair and objective site selection". It added: "We plan to select a new nuclear power plant candidate site through a comprehensive evaluation."

Under the current plan, KHNP will select the plant site by 2027. This will be followed by a site evaluation and selection process lasting about five to six months, with the goal of obtaining a construction permit in the early 2030s and completion of the reactors in 2037 and 2038.

On 26 January, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan confirmed that South Korea still plans to construct two new large nuclear power reactors by 2038, in line with its 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand.

The Basic Power Supply and Demand Plan contains domestic power generation facility plans for the next 15 years. It is updated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy every two years. A draft of the 11th Basic Plan - which covers 2024 to 2038 - was released in May 2024 and presented to a plenary session of the National Assembly by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on 19 February last year. It was approved by the National Assembly's Power Policy Review Committee on 21 February 2025. The plan calls for two new large nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 2.8 GWe and 700 MW of small modular reactor capacity to be built by 2038 - in addition to the large reactors already under construction or planned.

Since the minister's announcement, a number of cities and towns - including the southeastern cities of Busan and Ulsan - have reportedly shown interest in hosting the new nuclear reactors, Yonhap reported.

Russia and Uzbekistan MoU on radioactive waste management



Uzbekistan's Atomic Energy Agency and Russia's TVEL have signed a memorandum of understanding relating to the development of a national radioactive waste management system.
 
Uzbekistan's WWR-SM research nuclear reactor (Image: Rosatom)

Having a radioactive waste management system is part of the development in Uzbekistan of a nuclear energy sector - Russia's Rosatom is in the process of a project to build a plant featuring small modular reactors and two large units in the country.

Eduard Nikitin, Director of the Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation-Hazardous Facilities and Radioactive Waste Management Unit at TVEL, which is Rosatom's fuel division, said that as part of the Commonwealth of Independent States Framework Organisation, it was "actively working to foster cooperation between states on radioactive waste management. Joint seminars, training sessions, and technical tours of nuclear facilities are regularly held. This type of work helps formulate common principles for the safe management of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of radiation-hazardous facilities".

According to Rosatom the memorandum of understanding (MoU) will see them drawing on their "experience and expertise, to provide expert support in developing a national radioactive waste management system and training relevant specialists. The document also provides for the exchange of advanced technical and scientific practices in the field of radioactive waste management and nuclear power plant decommissioning".

It said the development of a radioactive waste management system "requires comprehensive preparatory work, including improving the regulatory framework in accordance with international requirements and safety standards".

A cooperation process along the same lines has also taken place in Belarus, where an organisation similar to Russia's National Operator for Radioactive Waste Management was established, and in November TVEL signed a similar MoU with the National Nuclear Centre of Kazakhstan "aimed at cooperation in the field of nuclear backend and the development of a national radioactive waste management system".

Although Uzbekistan is embarking on its first nuclear power reactors, it has considerable nuclear technology experience. It is the world's fifth-largest uranium supplier and there have also been two research reactors, a 10 MW tank type - WWR-SM - operating since 1959 at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Uzbek Academy of Sciences near Tashkent, and a small 20 kW one operated by JSC Foton in Tashkent. According to World Nuclear Association information, decommissioning of the Foton reactor was undertaken over 2015-17. The larger WWR-SM shut down in July 2016, with decommissioning intended to begin soon after. However, in February 2017 it was decided to refurbish it, and it was restarted in July 2017.

First concrete for Uzbekistan SMR 'well before December'


Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev have discussed progress on the project to build a nuclear power plant featuring both large and small reactors.
 
(Image: President.Uz)

According to the president's news service the two also talked about "expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy", in areas such as agriculture and medicine.

First concrete for the first small modular reactor had been expected to be poured in the spring, but a draft government document published last week mentioned December 2026.

That led to the Uzatom Agency publishing a clarification on Monday saying: "We would like to emphasise that the previously announced targets remain in effect, and there is no discussion of any postponement. The date indicated in the draft reflects a conservative scenario, which envisages the completion of all numerous mandatory preparatory and licensing stages by this date."

Following the talks on Tuesday, Likhachev said: "We are moving forward at a rapid pace and fully on schedule. Work on site is proceeding actively ... this year's main goal is to begin pouring concrete for the foundation slab of the nuclear island buildings. Given the importance of meeting deadlines, we aim to begin concrete preparation work this spring."

In a subsequent interview with Russia’s Rossiya-24 television channel, as reported by the official Tass news agency, he said: "I think we will pour the first concrete … much earlier than December. Our speed will depend on the customer … this is a regulated event implying receipt of certain licences, permits, qualifications, including for local manufacturers. Nevertheless, our plans are to make it much earlier than December."

Background

A contract signed in May 2024, during a visit to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was for the construction of a 330 MW capacity nuclear power plant featuring six units of the RITM-200N water-cooled small modular reactor (SMR), which is adapted from nuclear-powered icebreakers' technology, with thermal power of 190 MW or 55 MWe and with an intended service life of 60 years. The first unit was scheduled to go critical in late 2029 with units commissioned one by one.

It was the first export order for Russia's SMR. The first land-based version is currently being built in Yakut in Russia, with the launch of the first unit scheduled to take place in 2027.

An agreement signed at the end of September 2025 during World Atomic Week in Moscow multiplied the capacity of what had previously been proposed, with the plant plan switched to feature two large units - VVER-1000s with an output each of 1 GW - plus two 55 MW RITM-200N SMRs.

Excavation work began in October for the pit for the first of the SMRs at the site in the Jizzakh region. About 1.5 million cubic metres of soil will be excavated during the digging of a pit 13 metres deep for the RITM-200N, with engineering surveys and design and preparatory works also under way. Once completed, the new plant will provide for around 14% of Uzbekistan's electricity demands.

Steam generator removal begins at German plant

The removal of the first of four steam generators from the reactor building has begun at the shutdown Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant in Germany.
 
(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)

The first steam generator - measuring 20 metres in height and weighing 365 tonnes - was detached from its installation position inside the reactor building on 20 January, gradually lifted, tilted and rotated several times, before finally being placed in front of the new controlled area barrier.

Planning for the project at the Grafenrheinfeld plant began as early as 2021. Several structural modifications to the plant's reactor building were necessary for the lifting and unloading of the components.


(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)

"This task demanded the utmost precision and impressive engineering," said project manager Burghard Lindner. "Thanks to months of preparation, the actual lifting operation was carried out smoothly in approximately 9 hours. Our experienced partners Framatome and Mammoet, who had already removed the four steam generators at the Unterweser nuclear power plant, also mastered this challenge at the Grafenrheinfeld plant."

The component will be moved out of the controlled area and then made ready for transport on the power plant grounds. The removal of the remaining three steam generators will follow. The plan is to move the last of the four steam generators out and place it on the site by the end of February.

In spring 2027, the four steam generators will be shipped to Cyclife in Sweden, dismantled on site, and then partially melted down. Cyclife, a subsidiary of France's EDF, specialises in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and waste management. In 2021, the company was awarded the contract by PreussenElektra for the dismantling and disposal of a total of 12 steam generators from the Unterweser, Grafenrheinfeld, and Grohnde nuclear power plants.


(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)

Steam generators are the heat exchangers in pressurised water reactors (PWRs), producing the steam that turns the turbines to generate the electrical energy in the generator. PreussenElektra said the dismantling and disposal of the steam generators is one of the key projects in the dismantling of its PWRs and will take more than a decade.

The 1275 MWe (net) PWR at Grafenrheinfeld achieved first criticality in December 1981 and was connected to the grid in the same month. It entered commercial operation in June 1982.

In August 2011, the 13th amendment of the Nuclear Power Act came into effect, which underlined the political will to phase out nuclear power in Germany. As a result, eight units were closed down immediately: EnBW’s Phillipsburg 1 and Neckarwestheim 1; EOn's Isar 1 and Unterweser; RWE's Biblis A and B and Vattenfall's Brunsbüttel and Krümmel. As part of the 13th amendment to Germany's Nuclear Power Act, Grafenrheinfeld lost its authorisation for power operation and was finally shut down on 27 June 2015.

PreussenElektra applied for the decommissioning and first dismantling permit for Grafenrheinfeld in 2014 and received it in 2018. In this first approval procedure, the company described in detail the concept for the entire dismantling of the system and the measures planned for this. PreussenElektra split the application for the individual dismantling scopes into two steps. The dismantling of the plant began in April 2018 with the granting of the decommissioning and dismantling permit. The second dismantling permit, which was granted in December 2022, for which the application was submitted in December 2019, includes the dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel and the biological shield surrounding it.

Stellaria seeks permission to build experimental reactor

French molten salt reactor developer Stellaria has announced it is seeking the necessary authorisations to construct an experimental reactor. Its application is now under review.
 
A rendering of Alvin (Image: Stellaria)

The company - a start-up spun out of the French Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission and Schneider Electric - submitted its application for the creation authorisation decree (DAC) for its Basic Nuclear Installation (INB) Alpha to the French minister in charge of nuclear safety on 19 December.

The application concerns the siting and construction of its 100 kW Alvin experimental reactor, scheduled to start up in 2030, in order to launch the test programme that will definitively validate the concept.

The application comprises around 15 documents totalling more than 1,000 pages. It includes: the safety case, including a detailed description of the installation, the safety principles adopted, the analysis of incidents and accidents, including severe accidents, the management of external hazards (earthquakes, flooding, aircraft crashes), as well as radiation protection for workers, the public, and the environment; the environmental impact assessment of the installation; the conditions planned for decommissioning the installation at the end of its lifetime; a presentation of the operator's technical and financial capabilities; and all technical documents describing the installation in depth, which are essential for the review of the application.

"This new milestone represents a crucial step in the development of the French company and in the implementation of its Stellarium reactor, as it sets out the main principles of the project and officially elevates the start-up to the status of a nuclear operator," Stellaria said. "To date, Stellaria is the first company to have filed such an application with the authorities in the French fast-neutron nuclear market, and the second among the eleven French start-ups working on the development of SMRs or AMRs, after Jimmy Energy."

The Stellarium reactor proposed by Stellaria will be very compact (measuring 4 cubic metres) and will be able to use a diversified range of nuclear fuels (uranium, plutonium, mixed-oxide, minor actinides, even thorium). Stellaria says the reactor is "the world's first reactor to operate with a liquid fuel capable of destroying more waste than it produces".

Once Alvin has validated Stellaria's concept, the company plans to build a 10 MWe prototype reactor, MegAlvin.

"2025 marked a turning point for Stellaria," said Nicolas Breyton, President of Stellaria. "After a structured fundraising round, followed by the signing of a first power pre-order agreement for our reactors with Equinix, the global leader in data centres, the submission of the DAC allows us to reach a new milestone. This step is decisive for Stellaria, as it validates the work carried out so far by its teams and partners, and fully commits the company to its responsibilities as a nuclear operator. By filing this application, Stellaria moves beyond the concept stage and enters a structuring regulatory phase, in which its fundamental choices are now set."

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. They may operate with epithermal or fast neutron spectrums, and with a variety of fuels. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233), where an initial source of fissile material such as plutonium-239 needs to be provided. There are a number of different MSR design concepts, and a number of interesting challenges in the commercia

Zhangzhou 3's steam generators lifted into place



The third and final steam generator was moved into position at Zhangzhou nuclear power plant unit 3 on 26 January, the third of six Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors planned for the site in China's Fujian province.
 
(Image: CNNC)

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued construction licences for Zhangzhou units 1 and 2 on 9 October 2019 to CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, the owner of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project, which was created by CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%) in 2011.

Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. Unit 1 entered commercial operation on 1 January 2025 while unit 2 entered commercial operation on 1 January 2026.


(Image: CNNC)

The installation of the steam generators, which benefited from the construction experience gained from the first phase of the project, was said to have laid "a solid foundation for the subsequent dome hoisting and main pipeline welding".

In September 2022, China's State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One units as Phase II - units 3 and 4 - of the Zhangzhou plant. Construction of unit 3 began in February 2024, with that of unit 4 starting in September.

There are proposals for two more units at the plant. Once fully completed, a six-unit Zhangzhou plant would provide more than 60 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, estimated to meet 75% of the total electricity consumption of Xiamen and Zhangzhou cities in southern Fujian.lisation of many, especially with thorium

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SCI-FI-TEK 70YRS IN THE MAKING

Nuclear Fusion’s Long Wait for Wall Street Is Finally Over

By Haley Zaremba - Feb 01, 2026
  • General Fusion is set to become the first publicly traded company dedicated solely to nuclear fusion, signaling growing investor confidence in the field.

  • The company’s piston-driven, liquid-lithium approach challenges magnet- and laser-based fusion designs while aiming to reduce material degradation.

  • The IPO reflects a broader transformation of fusion research from slow-moving international projects to faster, privately funded efforts driven by rising energy demand.

The world is about to gain its first publicly traded ‘pure-play’ fusion company, and it's determined to deliver energy from nuclear fusion with an innovative model that uses neither magnets nor lasers, the most common components of leading fusion experiments. Instead, the model being piloted by the fusion-exclusive startup General Fusion uses mechanical pistons to contain plasma within a liquid lithium shell. Interesting Engineering reports that the technology has been described as a “practical, mechanical approach to fusion, emphasizing its ability to bypass the material degradation issues that plague other designs.”

But the most groundbreaking thing about General Fusion isn’t its technology – it’s its soon-to-be distinction as a publicly traded firm that focuses on nuclear fusion alone. This comes as the result of a “definitive business combination agreement” between General Fusion and Spring Valley Acquisition Corp, and shows a stunning confidence in the commercial potential of nuclear fusion. The investors are signalling a huge shift in the fusion field by putting all their eggs into this particular basket. 

The upcoming General Fusion IPO underscores just how radically the field of nuclear fusion research has changed over the last few years. For decades, nuclear fusion was strictly the purview of massive governmental coalitions, the only entities capable of supplying the kind of cash and resources necessary to conduct such a massive and costly experiment. Now, the market is filling up with smaller and more agile startups as the race for fusion becomes increasingly privatised, making it more diverse and agile. And the breakthroughs are already stacking up. 

Just a decade ago, nuclear fusion seemed like a pipe dream, often touted as an elusive and futuristic ‘silver bullet’ solution for limitless clean energy. The dream was so lofty and grandiose that only the most deep-pocketed governments were able to experiment with essentially recreating the systems that power our own sun here on Earth. 

For years, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) led the pack and maintains its distinction as the biggest fusion experiment in the world – and maybe even “the grandest scientific experiment in the world.” The massive facility, located in the south of France, is funded and operated by seven member parties: China, the European Union (EU), India, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States. But due to the scale and the bureaucratic nature of the proverbial beast, ITER is still years away from achieving first plasma well over a decade and an estimated €22 billion after breaking ground.

ITER is still relevant, but it’s no longer the singular shining star of the field of research. Various other projects are on track to beat ITER to its goals, and for much, much less money. ITER’s backers say that this is a sign of the project's success, and that its achievements and profile have inspired the groundswell of private investors now flooding the field and working hard to make ITER obsolete. 

A lot of that private attention and cash is coming from the tech sector, which is feeling a large and increasing sense of urgency as the AI boom requires ever-increasing amounts of energy to keep data centers running. Some of tech’s biggest players, including Bill Gates and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, are major proponents of nuclear fusion research as an answer to AI’s growing energy problem. 

If you know how to build a fusion power plant, you can have unlimited energy anywhere and forever. It’s hard to overstate what a big deal that will be,” Gates wrote in an October essay. “The availability and affordability of electricity is a huge limiting factor for virtually every sector of the economy today. Removing those limits could be as transformative as the invention of the steam engine before the Industrial Revolution.”

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com


Type One Energy initiates licensing of fusion power plant


 World Nuclear News

US fusion energy developer Type One Energy has submitted the initial licensing application in preparation for the construction of a fusion power plant at Tennessee Valley Authority's former Bull Run fossil plant site in Clinton, Tennessee.
 
Infinity Two (Image: Type One Energy)

Type One Energy said it worked closely with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) to prepare the "first-of-a-kind" application for a byproduct material licence, "demonstrating compliance with key licensing requirements for fusion energy technology as part of a comprehensive application process".

Project Infinity - which encompasses the Infinity One prototype and workforce training centre together with the 350 MWe Infinity Two fusion power plant - will proceed in several phases at TVA’s Bull Run site. Bull Run Fossil Plant is located on the north bank of Bull Run Creek, directly across the Clinch River from Oak Ridge. The 865 MW coal-fired power plant entered operation in 1967 and was retired on 1 December 2023.

The first phase of Project Infinity, deployment of Infinity One operated by Type One Energy, is scheduled for commissioning and startup in 2029. Type One Energy's Infinity One is a stellarator fusion reactor - different to a tokamak fusion reactor such as the Joint European Torus in the UK or the Iter device under construction in France. A tokamak is based on a uniform toroid shape, whereas a stellarator twists that shape in a figure-8. This is intended to get round the problems tokamaks can face when magnetic coils confining the plasma are necessarily less dense on the outside of the toroidal ring.

In September, TVA issued Type One Energy a Letter of Intent to develop and build Infinity Two - a first-generation 350 MWe baseload power plant using the company's stellarator fusion technology - with construction starting as early as 2028. Type One Energy completed the first formal design review of Infinity Two in May last year. Final decisions and definitive agreements regarding the funding and construction of Infinity Two, as well as any agreements to purchase the energy output, are subject to TVA Board approval, regulatory review, and alignment with least-cost planning processes, amongst other things, TVA has previously said.

"Today's byproduct material licence application is a 'safety by design' protocol for fusion facility licensing with significant performance margins to ensure safety is optimised throughout the design process," Type One Energy said. "In this context, the Infinity Two fusion power plant is designed for regulatory approval and deployment around the globe."

"Today is an important milestone for Type One Energy, TVA and the State of Tennessee," said Type One Energy CEO Christofer Mowry. "We've been working closely together since February 2024, sharing relevant design information and knowledge that is essential to establish the appropriate licensing conditions for a fusion power plant. This collaboration makes Tennessee an international model of 'safety by design' and transparency for licensing fusion machines."

TVA President and CEO Don Moul added: "TVA is proud to play a leading role in supporting the advancement of fusion energy – a technology that represents the next frontier in low-cost, reliable power. Our collaboration with Type One Energy and the State of Tennessee highlights how innovation and partnership can strengthen America's energy security and advance the nation's commitment to energy leadership. Through initiatives like Project Infinity, TVA is helping ensure that the Tennessee Valley remains at the forefront of delivering prosperity for American families."

"The announcement today supercharges Tennessee's reputation as the global hub for nuclear innovation," said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. "This application lays the groundwork for subsequent submissions and is a byproduct of the collaboration between fusion energy companies like Type One Energy and TDEC in establishing a first-of-its-kind state regulatory framework for fusion energy in Tennessee."

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The Growing Debate Over Britain’s Climate Transition

By Felicity Bradstock - Feb 01, 2026
  • The U.K. has rapidly expanded renewables and cut emissions, becoming the first G7 country to phase out coal power.

  • Disagreement over the cost of net-zero policies is deepening political divisions, particularly between Labour, Green , Conservatives, and Reform U.K.

  • While official advisers argue long-term savings will outweigh costs, critics warn the green transition could cost trillions and strain the economy.

Since the Labour government came into power in 2024, the United Kingdom has doubled down on efforts to decarbonise its economy and put itself on track for achieving its net-zero carbon emissions aims for the mid-century. However, in recent months, there has been some division in parliament about the high price tag associated with achieving the country’s climate goals. 

The U.K. introduced its 2050 net-zero target in 2021, in a bid to limit global warming in line with international Paris Agreement aims. The government has since adopted several national policies to meet this aim.

The U.K. net-zero policy has been in and out of court, as several judges deemed early proposals unlawful due to the lack of clear planning to achieve the aims set out. The latest revision of the strategy is the 2025 Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan. The Labour government also announced the aim of delivering Clean Power by 2030, in December 2024, supported by legislation such as the Great British Energy Act, which created a publicly-owned clean power company to accelerate investment in renewable energy. 


The U.K. also introduced aims for the end of the sale of new fully petrol and diesel cars by 2030, the subsidy of electric heat pumps to replace gas boilers, and investment in technology to capture and store CO2. 

The U.K. has significantly increased its renewable energy capacity in recent years, driven by its strong climate policy. Renewable energy sources generated 51 percent of the U.K.’s electricity in 2024, with wind energy contributing 30 percent. The U.K. has cut its greenhouse gas emissions significantly in recent years, which were roughly 54 percent lower in 2024 than in 1990.

The U.K. became the first G7 country to phase out coal power, in 2024, with the closure of the last coal-fired power station. While significant progress has been made, in June 2025, the government’s independent adviser, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), warned that further action was needed.

Despite having established clear national policies to achieve net-zero aims and significantly increase the U.K.’s renewable energy capacity in recent years, there has been a lack of political consensus over net-zero policies in recent months, with opponents suggesting that the planned shift is too complex and expensive. Some politicians have accused the government of putting environmental targets above economic goals.

Both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties remain committed to the mid-century net-zero goal and agree that the U.K. should take a lead in the global fight against climate change, arguing that reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels will support economic goals due to the volatile price of these fuels and geopolitical instability.

However, the Conservatives and Reform U.K. want to scrap the country’s net-zero target, suggesting that the existing strategy to achieve this goal is too expensive and difficult to achieve. They also argue that the UU.K.'sefforts to decarbonise have little impact on global climate change, as the country’s emissions are lower than those of other powers, such as the U.S. and China. By contrast, the Green Party wants to accelerate progress towards net-zero.

There is no clear idea of just how much the green transition will cost the U.K. to achieve; however, the CCC estimates a net cost equivalent of roughly 0.2 percent of the U.K.’s GDP per year between 2025 and 2050, based on its recommended pathway. This would mean tens of billions in investment a year in upfront investment between now and the end of the decade.

However, a recent report by the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank suggested that achieving the net-zero target could cost more than official estimates suggest. Energy analyst David Turner said the cash costs leading up to 2050 could reach as much as £7.6 trillion, compared to the cumulative £108 billion cost estimated by the CCC.

Nevertheless, the CCC expects most of the investment to come from the private sector. It also estimates that savings from transitioning away from fossil fuels to cleaner, more efficient alternatives will outweigh costs by the early 2040s. It would also reduce spending on tackling climate hazards.

Meanwhile, a National Energy System Operator for Great Britain stated, “NESO has made clear that driving for clean energy saves money by fundamentally reducing our exposure to fossil fuel markets – its report shows we could save £36 billion annually if we hit our 2050 goals compared with a scenario in which we slow down.”

The U.K. has established strong green energy policies that are supporting the country’s acceleration away from a reliance on fossil fuels to renewable alternatives, helping to drive down emissions. However, the high cost associated with this shift has led parliament to become more fragmented, as parties disagree on just how important it is to decarbonise the economy, which could ultimately put the U.K.’s climate targets in jeopardy.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com


Amentum awarded further UK contracts by EDF


USA-based engineering company Amentum has been awarded several new contracts by EDF, worth up to GBP540 million (USD743 million), expanding the critical solutions it provides for the UK's existing reactor fleet as well as for the construction of the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.
 
Heysham 2 (image: EDF)

Amentum is the delivery partner for programme, project and construction management services at Hinkley Point C; sole programme and project management delivery partner at Sizewell C; and also supports the UK's existing nuclear power stations under a Lifetime Enterprise Agreement with EDF. It is a major supplier of engineering design, safety case and project management at Sellafield and other UK nuclear decommissioning sites and operates the country's largest private sector complex of nuclear laboratories and engineering test facilities in Warrington.

The newly awarded contracts comprise: ten-year Professional Services Agreement frameworks with Hinkley Point C, EDF Nuclear Operations and EDF Nuclear Services to support the Hinkley Point C new build programme, operating stations and their engineering capability hub; and a five-year Project Management Resources framework to support station operations, life extension and preparation for decommissioning.

"Amentum's expertise in gigawatt reactor operational support and life extension makes it the ideal partner for EDF, one of the world's largest nuclear utilities," said Loren Jones, senior vice president and head of Amentum’s Energy & Environment-International business. "This award advances our strategy to accelerate the growth of our nuclear energy business in line with the opportunities being created by the worldwide nuclear resurgence. Amentum will deploy the skills and experience of more than 1,000 UK-based specialists to provide the full breadth of nuclear skills, solutions, and products essential to the continued operation and life extension of the UK's existing nuclear fleet."

Jones added: "A further 300 Amentum colleagues are already delivering multi-disciplinary roles across Hinkley Point C under the Professional Services Agreement. We expect this number to grow as these new contracts mature, strengthening our position to support long-term operations once the reactors come online."

Mark Whitney, president of Amentum's Energy & Environment business, added: "These new contracts build on Amentum's differentiated position as a lead strategic partner to EDF and advance an immensely productive business relationship that dates back many decades."

In March 2025, Amentum was selected as sole programme and project management delivery partner for the planned Sizewell C nuclear power plant in the UK. As well as programme and project management, Amentum will support delivery teams from Sizewell C Ltd with digitally aligned project controls, engineering and technical services, and innovative infrastructure solutions for site management. The contract duration is until the plant begins generating electricity.

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Africa’s Solar Boom Draws New Investment

By Haley Zaremba - Jan 31, 2026
  • Global funders are backing solar-powered agricultural technologies across several African countries to address rising energy and food demand.

  • Falling solar costs and Chinese panel imports have helped spark a rapid expansion of microsolar projects across the continent.

  • African leaders see climate finance as an opportunity to build local clean energy industries, not repeat extractive development models.

This week, the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation announced that they will funnel tens of millions of dollars into the budding African solar power sector. The two major global funding bodies are investing in non-profit organizations across the African continent to expand solar power projects with the tandem goal of helping to boost the agricultural sector through solar-powered technologies. 

“The initiative will support the rollout of solar-powered cold storage facilities, refrigerators, water pumps and grain mills in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Business Insider reports. The move comes at a pivotal time for Africa, which is facing skyrocketing population growth and therefore huge increases in demand for both energy and food. 

It also comes at a time when the African solar sector is just starting to take off. Thanks to its sunny skies and large tracts of undeveloped land, the continent boasts 60 percent of the planet’s best solar power potential, but generates just 2 percent of its electricity from solar. However, “falling hardware prices and rising efficiency have led to a boom in microsolar projects across the continent,” according to a recent report from Semafor.


A flood of cheap solar panels from China has enabled a renewable revolution in Africa, with the continent’s solar panel imports nearly tripling over the last two years. The growing affordability of this solution is proving pivotal to Africa’s ability to “leapfrog” over fossil fuels and straight to economic development powered by clean energy.

In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change on a global scale, all nations rich and poor need to undertake the costly and difficult process of transitioning their economies toward low- and zero- emissions energy sources. But some countries – including many in Africa – are still concerned about developing their economies at any cost, with little to no bandwidth or budget to consider making sure that such a development is just and eco-friendly.

Moreover, in a cruel irony, many of the poorest nations in the world will experience climate change earliest and most catastrophically, all while having contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. In an attempt to redress some of these imbalances, and to address decarbonization as a problem without borders, rich nations have forged agreements to funnel climate financing to poor nations to advance their clean energy transitions.

But many of those promises have been broken, and what has been delivered has, in large part, been too little, too late. Leaders of small island nations in the South Pacific, the most vulnerable countries to climate change, have been outspoken on these injustices.

"It is past time for the rich world to meet its obligations and get money to where it’s needed most,” Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told the United Nations General Assembly last September. “We’ve heard the promises - but promises don’t reclaim land in atoll nations like mine."

"Those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill," Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka went on to add.

However, in Africa, the calculus is complicated. While the continent dearly needs backing to develop massive renewable energy potential, African leaders do not want to fall into a familiar trap, in which the continent’s riches are exploited and exported to wealthy nations while Africans reap few of the benefits. While Chinese solar panels have helped the African solar sector get off the ground, climate finance initiatives like this one from the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation could help fortify local supply chains.

In a 2025 report on African-made solar panels, Clean Technica writes that “African climate leaders say the continent, which holds more than 30 percent of the world’s critical minerals, should be an industrial actor — not an importer — in the clean energy transition.”

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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The Key Energy Takeaways From Davos 2026


By Felicity Bradstock - Jan 31, 2026
  • Climate change ranked high in global risk assessments but received less attention at Davos than in previous years.

  • Energy security emerged as a top priority, with leaders emphasizing domestic production and nuclear power.

  • Sharp divisions were evident between fossil fuel expansion advocates and supporters of renewable energy transitions.

The 56th World Economic Forum, also known as Davos 2026, was held in Switzerland in January, allowing world leaders and business representatives to meet with the aim of shaping global, regional, and industry agendas, with 60 heads of state, more than 400 political leaders, and 830 CEOs and Chairs in attendance this year. This year’s forum came at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and its NATO allies, including Canada, Greenland, and Europe. 

Addressing Global Risks and, to a Lesser Extent, Climate Change

Before the event, the World Economic Forum (WEF) published a list of global risks ranked by severity as part of its Global Risks Report 2026. In the short-term (2 years), extreme weather events were ranked forth and pollution came ninth. However, in the long-term, severe weather events came first, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse came second, critical change to earth systems third, natural resource shortages fifth, and pollution tenth. This demonstrates the importance of immediately addressing climate change and the future of global energy.


During the conference, several country leaders discussed the climate crisis and the need for investment in renewable energy. Mexico’s Environment Minister Alicia Bárcena called for an accelerated green energy transition and the expansion of the circular economy, saying that current efforts are not enough to tackle the global climate crisis. “We have an urgent need to move faster and on a larger scale,” said Bárcena. “The scale at which we are currently working is insufficient.”

However, compared to previous years, climate change took somewhat of a back seat, with geopolitical concerns overshadowing the issue. In previous years, world leaders have used Davos as a platform to make national pledges to tackle climate change. However, politicians at the conference this year seemed more concerned about cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and geopolitics, leaving just activists and climate scientists to discuss progress on climate action.

The shift away from a focus on climate change reflects the broader shift by multinational corporations that have watered down their decarbonisation pledges in recent years. The leader of the World Economic Forum’s centre for nature and climate, Sebastian Buckup, stated, “The Davos programming is a reflection of what chief executives want to talk about, ultimately.” And what CEOs want to discuss has changed.

Boosting Energy Security

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Executive Director, Fatih Birol, said at the conference that he had “never seen the energy security risks multiplying (like this)... energy security should be elevated to the level of national security.” Countries should generate their own energy, which will give a boost to renewables, according to Birol.

Birol also raised concerns over the need to expand energy capacity to meet the growing demand for power from data centres and electric vehicles. This could potentially lead countries to rely more heavily on fossil fuels in the coming years.

U.S. Oil Push

The United States has pursued a national energy policy of fossil fuel expansion over the last year, under the Trump administration, which was reflected in U.S. discourse in Davos. The U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, stressed that he thought Europe and the U.S. state of California were wasting too much money on green energy investments.

Wright also told a panel that global oil production needs to more than double to meet rising energy demand, contrary to IEA advice to reduce production in favour of renewable alternatives and industry predictions of a fossil fuel demand peak within the next two decades.

Meanwhile, President Trump said that oil and gas production and a nuclear renaissance were evidence of U.S. energy dominance. Trump criticised Biden-era climate policies as the “Green New Scam.” He also criticised wind energy for being “inefficient and expensive” and suggested that Europe’s reliance on renewables had led it to be less competitive.

By contrast, one of Trump’s former allies, Elon Musk, said that the U.S. could produce enough solar power to meet all of its electricity needs, including for the rising demand from data centres. This, he said, would depend on the U.S. reducing its trade tariffs. 

A New Era of Nuclear Power

There was a consensus among several world leaders at Davos that nuclear power will play a major role in the future of global clean energy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted nuclear energy’s role in lowering prices and cutting dependencies, while U.S. representatives discussed the major investment earmarked for the development of U.S. enriched uranium production, which is expected to reduce reliance on Russia.

There was emphasis by several leaders on the need to work together to strengthen countries’ energy independence through the deployment of nuclear power. Regional and bilateral alliances, such as the EU nuclear alliance, Nordic-Baltic cooperation, renewed Japanese investment, and civil nuclear cooperation between the U.S. and Canada, are expected to enhance cooperation. 

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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