It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Legislative changes proposed to remove Swiss new reactor ban
Switzerland's Federal Council has presented draft legislation that would remove the country's ban on the construction of new nuclear power, which has been in place since 1 January 2018.
(Image: GDJ / Pixabay)
A new Swiss energy policy was sought in response to the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Two months later, both the Swiss parliament and government decided to exit nuclear power production. The Energy Strategy 2050 initiative drawn up by the Federal Council came into force in 2018 and calls for a gradual withdrawal from nuclear energy. It also foresees expanded use of renewables and hydro power but anticipates increased reliance on fossil fuels and electricity imports as an interim measure.
Switzerland currently has four nuclear reactors generating about one-third of its electricity. They all have an unlimited operating licence and can be operated as long as they are safe.
In March 2024, the federal popular initiative Electricity For Everyone At All Times (Stop Blackouts) was passed. The federal constitution now stipulates that the electricity supply must be guaranteed at all times and that the federal government should determine the necessary responsibilities for this. Furthermore, electricity production should be environmentally and climate-friendly and all climate-friendly types of electricity generation should be permitted. Acceptance of the initiative would mean a new division of tasks between the federal government and the cantons and the lifting of the ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
The Federal Council has now adopted the text on an indirect counter-proposal to the Stop the Blackout initiative. It said it rejects the initiative, but intends to use the counter-proposal to amend the Nuclear Energy Act so that new nuclear power plants can once again be licensed in Switzerland.
The Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication (DETEC) said the Stop the Blackout initiative "aims to introduce a provision into the Federal Constitution requiring that the electricity supply be guaranteed at all times and that the Confederation allocate responsibilities for this. However, this objective would represent a fundamental departure from the current division of tasks and responsibilities for energy supply between municipalities, cantons, and the Confederation. The Federal Council rejects this initiative."
It said the initiative also requires that all forms of "climate-friendly electricity generation be permitted. It therefore implicitly calls for the ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants to be lifted. The Federal Council supports this fundamental point in order to maintain a certain degree of flexibility regarding options for energy supply in the future. However, this does not require a constitutional amendment; it is sufficient to amend the Nuclear Energy Act. Therefore, the Federal Council is proposing an indirect counter-proposal, which has been put out for consultation from December 2024 to April 2025."
DETEC said the counter-proposal will repeal two provisions prohibiting the granting of general permits for new nuclear power plants and for modifications to existing nuclear power plants. "This means that general permits may in principle be granted again for nuclear power plants in the future," it noted. However, it said: "The counter-proposal does not consist of a decision to build new nuclear power plants, since there are currently no concrete construction plans."
The Swiss Nuclear Forum welcomed the indirect counterproposal. The organisation's President Hans-Ulrich Bigler commented: "Electricity demand will increase to over 90 TWh by 2050 - just think of electrification, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence. Given climate targets and the geopolitical situation, gas-fired power plants are not a sustainable option, and the expansion of renewables is stalling. It is high time for technology-neutral planning."
Modi highlights India's nuclear plans on Independence Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's plans for reforms in the nuclear energy sector in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in Delhi.
Modi arrives at the Red Fort on Independence Day (Image: Press Trust of India)
India celebrates its independence on 15 August. Modi's address on the 79th Independence Day lasted 103 minutes - his longest yet. It focused on self-reliance, innovation, and citizen empowerment, and the roadmap to Viksit Bharat: the government's strategy to make India into a completely developed nation by 2047.
It is "essential" for India to become self-reliant in energy, Modi said: in the last 11 years, solar energy has seen a thirtyfold increase; new hydropower dams are being built; and India is investing "thousands of crores of rupees" in green hydrogen initiatives, he said.
"Keeping in mind the future of energy, Bharat is also undertaking major initiatives in nuclear energy," Modi said. "In the field of nuclear energy, 10 new reactors are progressing rapidly. By 2047, when the nation will complete 100 years of independence - the year we have set as the target for achieving the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' - we are moving forward with the resolve to increase our nuclear energy capacity more than tenfold."
India plans to achieve this by a two-pronged approach, with the deployment of large-capacity reactors as well as small modular reactors (SMRs). Earlier this month, Minister of State Jitendra Singh outlined to the Parliament the three types of SMR that are being designed and developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for demonstration: the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (sometimes referred to as BSMR-200); a 55 MWe small modular reactor (SMR); and a 5 MWt high temperature gas cooled reactor for hydrogen production by coupling with suitable thermochemical process for hydrogen production.
India has introduced "major reforms" in the field of nuclear energy, Modi said: "We have now opened the doors of nuclear energy to the private sector as well; we want to combine our strengths."
The Atomic Energy Act of 1962 prohibits private control of nuclear power generation in India: only two government-owned enterprises - Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI, set up to build and operate fast reactors) - are legally allowed to own and operate nuclear power plants in India. Amendments to the act made in 2016 allow public sector joint ventures, but private sector companies and foreign investments are not allowed to invest directly in nuclear power in India.
However, the government has begun the process to amend the Amending the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, to enable broader participation by private and state sectors.
According to World Nuclear Association information, India currently has 24 operable nuclear reactors totalling 7,943 MW of capacity, with six reactors - 4,768 MW - under construction. (The Indian government often classes two units at Gorakhpur where site works have begun as being under construction, although the first concrete for the reactor buildings has not yet been poured.) A further 10 units - some 7 GW of capacity - are in pre-project stages.
UK MoD: Nuclear Safety Incidents at Sub Base Posed No Risk to Public
A nuclear sub alongside at a berth at Faslane (UK MoD)
Following a report of a minor leak of radioactive tritium at the Royal Navy's Faslane / Coulport nuclear ballistic missile submarine complex, UK politicians have begun asking questions about the frequency of reportable HSE incidents at the facilities. This week, the UK's defense minister confirmed that a serious "category A" safety incident occurred as recently as this spring - though the UK MoD maintains that the public and environment were never in danger.
The series of revelations began five days ago, when the Guardian and The Ferret published a long-awaited story on radioactive pollution from the Coulport nuclear warhead storage depot on Loch Long, part of HMNB Clyde. Since 2019, the outlets had been trying to publish regulatory documents about leaks at the depot, and this month they finally obtained clearance from the relevant classification authorities. The documents from Scotland's environmental regulator show that aging water pipes burst three times at Coulport in the 2010s, and one event resulted in a "significant" flooding incident in a nuclear weapons processing area at the depot in 2019. The water was contaminated with low levels of tritium, and it spilled out a drain and into the sea.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) reviewed the incident and wrote up an (initially classified) report on it, finding that the pollution level was very low and unlikely to endanger the public. However, it determined that the incident demonstrated asset management shortcomings at the base, resulting in the unexpected piping failure.
The MoD pledged improvements after the report, but there were two more pipe bursts in 2021, including a second flooding incident in an area with radioactive materials. In 2022, SEPA concluded that MoD had moved too slowly in making safety management improvements.
Since 2023, there have been 12 additional "category A" nuclear safety incidents at the Faslane sub base, according to The Ferret. One occurred between January 1 and April 22, 2025, confirmed defense minister Maria Eagle this week.
"None of the events caused harm to the health of any member of staff or to any member of the public and none have resulted in any radiological impact to the environment," Minister Eagle assured in a written response.
The MoD has pushed back on perceptions of risk, and it suggested this week that it is "factually incorrect to suggest" that there was any danger to the public or any radiological impact. It has presented the existence of safety incident reports as a positive, a demonstration of "robust safety culture and commitment to learn from experience."
The news of Faslane's reportable safety incidents prompted protests from Scottish politicians. "With repeated reports of serious incidents at Faslane and now confirmed radioactive contamination in Loch Long, it's clear these weapons are not only poorly maintained but are a direct threat to our environment, our communities, and our safety," said MSP Keith Brown in a statement.
US startup makes thorium breakthrough at Department of Energy’s Idaho National Lab
Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) a Chicago-based company developing thorium-based nuclear fuel, announced a milestone for its patented Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life (ANEEL) fuel, which it said has now reached a burnup level of over 45 gigawatt-days per metric ton in the advanced test reactor at the US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
This level, CCTE said, outpaces the capabilities of conventional nuclear fuels used in pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and CANDU reactors – Canadian pressurized heavy-water reactor design used to generate electric power.
In February, the privately- held company raised a $15.5M Series Seed round of financing to advance the ANEEL fuel – a patented blend of thorium and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) designed to be seamlessly deployed into existing reactors.
The fuel, the company said, uniquely combines thorium with HALEU to offer a safer, more efficient, and proliferation-resistant alternative for existing and future PHWR and other CANDU reactor fleets worldwide.
Thorium, weakly radioactive, silvery-white metal, has been hailed as a safer and cheaper alternative to uranium in nuclear reactors. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), thorium is three times more abundant in nature than uranium, but historically has found little use in power generation due to the significant economic and technical hurdles.
Compared to uranium, thorium can generate a significantly higher amount of energy via nuclear fission, reports have shown.
Over a year of testing
In May 2024, twelve ANEEL fuel rodlets were loaded into the ATR for irradiation to achieve three burnup level targets. The first successful irradiation of four rodlets surpassed 20 GWd/MTU last year, the company said, adding that the second set of four rodlets have exceeded 45 GWd/MTU—six to seven times the average discharge burnup for PHWR/CANDU reactors that are designed to use natural uranium fuel.
The newly irradiated rodlets are currently cooling in the ATR water pool and will soon be transferred to INL’s materials and fuels complex for detailed post-irradiation examination. The final four rodlets will remain in the ATR for continued irradiation, with expected burnup levels exceeding 60 GWd/MTU, CCTE said.
“This second burnup milestone is a transformative moment for CCTE and for the future of nuclear energy,” CCTE Thorium Energy CEO Mehul Shah said in a news release.
“ANEEL fuel is not just demonstrating superior technical performance—it’s proving that thorium-based solutions can meaningfully address global
challenges of energy security, nuclear waste, and proliferation,” Shah said. “Our partnership with INL is helping unlock a new era for advanced nuclear fuels.”
The company said these results reflect ANEEL fuel’s potential to redefine performance and sustainability standards in the nuclear industry.
“ANEEL’s performance in the ATR is a strong indicator of the promise thorium-based fuels hold in supporting future energy goals and diversifying the nuclear fuel landscape,” Dr. Michael Worrall, Technical Lead for the CCTE ATR Irradiation at INL, added.
US lab begins post-irradiation studies on high-burnup fuel
Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have begun post-irradiation studies on GE Vernova's high burnup fuel after it has spent six years in a commercial reactor.
The lid of the shipping container is opened inside a shielded hot cell at PNNL (Image: PNNL)
The lab is examining a shipment of fuel rods, manufactured by Global Nuclear Fuel - a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd - from assemblies that were initially loaded into a US nuclear power plant for two 24-month cycles of operation. The assemblies were then relicensed to allow them to be reloaded for an additional cycle to increase their exposure, operating in the reactor beyond current US Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing limits.
High burnup fuels use more of the fissile material in nuclear fuel, allowing longer operational cycles. The need for fewer fuel bundles, over time, is expected to enhance nuclear safety and reduce the amount of used fuel that needs to be managed. High-burnup fuels could also support power uprates at existing nuclear power plants. The Department of Energy (DOE) is supporting the development of such fuels through its Accident Tolerant Fuels Program.
The shipment of GNF2 Fuel rods arrive at PNNL (Image: PNNL)
The assemblies shipped to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) include full length and partial length rods - a feature that is unique to boiling water reactor fuels - with fuel pellets that contain gadolinium, which absorbs neutrons to improve the use of the fuel's fissile content throughout the operating cycle, DOE said. They were removed from the reactor in 2023, and will be analysed by PNNL over the next few years to determine the impact of the additional cycles on the fuel and cladding performance.
The studies support GNF’s development, engineering and licensing efforts to ensure the continued safe and reliable performance of fuel under expanded operating conditions, GE Vernova said.
Similar studies began on irradiated GNF2 fuel rods at Oak Ridge National Laboratory last year. The rods that have been shipped to PNNL were selected to compliment the work being done at Oak Ridge, GE Vernova told World Nuclear News: "As part of this initiative, it is important to collect irradiated performance data from different operating conditions and water chemistry variations for licensing approvals and to support the success of a fleet-wide deployment."
The fuel is the same design that will be used in the initial core designs of the GVH BWRX-300 small modular reactor, and the data obtained through this programme will be used to support future potential economic improvements in BWRX-300 fuel cycle designs, including extending fuel cycle lengths to 36 to 48 months.
A fuel rod to release Radioactive gases for analysis (Image: PNNL)
"The examination of these rods is the next step in our continuous drive to develop higher efficiency fuels that are safer and more reliable," said Craig Ranson, Installed Base CEO at GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. "We are proud to be part of this collaboration with the US Department of Energy, PNNL and our utility partners to benefit the entire industry."
Frank Goldner, the Accident Tolerant Fuel federal programme manager in the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, said the start of the studies at PNNL is significant milestone for the programme. "The development of this fuel could further support the Trump Administration's executive order to facilitate five gigawatts of power uprates at existing power plants by 2030 and high burnup fuels could be a big part of that," he said.
The DOE programme is supporting GE Vernova, Framatome, and Westinghouse who are all testing fuel concepts in commercial US reactors with the goal of widespread adoption by 2030.
Equinix signs further agreements with SMR developers
In a move to diversify its power supplies, data centre developer and operator Equinix has signed a preorder agreement for the purchase of 20 of Radiant's Kaleidos microreactors and intends to sign a power purchase agreement with Dutch nuclear energy development company ULC-Energy.
A rendering of Radiant's Kaleidos microreactor (Image: Radiant)
"Equinix is taking a diversified portfolio approach to the global energy challenge by tapping into innovative power technologies and working directly with utilities to strengthen the grid," the California-headquartered company said. "Looking ahead, the company is supporting the development of advanced nuclear technologies that can deliver reliable, clean power in the future.
"Next generation nuclear technologies can offer a pathway to faster nuclear deployments due to their simplified design and robust safety features. Equinix sees safe, efficient and reliable nuclear energy as a promising solution to help power both data centres and the broader grid."
California-headquartered Equinix has now announced a preorder agreement with Radiant for the purchase of twenty 1 MWe Kaleidos high-temperature gas-cooled portable microreactors. The Kaleidos will use a graphite core and TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel.
Radiant was one of eight technology developers selected earlier this year as potential microreactor suppliers made eligible to receive funding under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations programme: an initiative launched in 2024 by the Defense Innovation Unit in collaboration with the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, with the goal of "working to design, license, build, and operate one or more microreactor nuclear power plants on military installations".
Earlier this week, Radiant was among 11 advanced reactor projects that the US Department of Energy announced as its initial selection for the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to see at least three of them achieve criticality in less than one year from now.
"Kaleidos offers a reliable, long-lasting energy source that can be transported anywhere it's needed, installed in days, and deployed safely alongside existing equipment and integrated with on-site transmission infrastructure," Equinix said.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Radiant said: "We're proud to share that Equinix, the world leader in digital infrastructure, has signed a deal and submitted deposits for the purchase of 20 Kaleidos microreactors. This is not only the largest deal to date for us, it's the largest deal to date for any mass-manufactured reactor."
Dutch power purchase agreement
Equinix also announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with ULC-Energy for a power purchase agreement up to 250 MWe to power data centres in the Netherlands.
In August 2022, Rolls-Royce SMR of the UK signed an exclusive agreement with ULC-Energy to collaborate on the deployment of Rolls-Royce SMR power plants in the Netherlands. ULC-Energy - established in 2021 and based in Amsterdam - aims to accelerate decarbonisation in the Netherlands by developing nuclear energy projects that efficiently integrate with residential and industrial energy networks in the country.
(Image: ULC-Energy)
"Our partnership with ULC-Energy marks an important milestone in Equinix's mission to support sustainable growth in the Netherlands," said Michiel Eielts, Managing Director for Equinix in the Netherlands. "By securing Rolls-Royce SMR capacity, we're not only ensuring reliable and clean energy for our data centres but also contributing to a resilient energy future that benefits local communities, supports economic development, and helps reduce the environmental impact of digital infrastructure."
ULC-Energy CEO Dirk Rabelink said: "Small modular reactors (SMRs) are ideally suited to power increasing demand for data centres. They can deliver clean baseload electricity safely, reliably, and affordably. ULC-Energy has developed a deployment model that leverages the SMR's capability to address data centre energy requirements whilst also providing a realistic and affordable solution to support the increasing regional grid and energy challenges. The SMR-powered data centre will enable a clean digital solution and will be a strategic regional energy asset benefitting many local stakeholders."
Equinix has previously signed agreements with other SMR developers. In April 2024, it signed an agreement to procure 500 MW of energy from US company Oklo's next-generation fission Aurora powerhouses. It has also signed a pre-order power agreement for 500 MWe with French molten salt reactor developer Stellaria to power its European data centres.
"The potential challenges to powering reliable and sustainable digital infrastructure are considerable," said Ali Ruckteschler, Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Equinix. "However, Equinix has always been at the forefront of energy innovation, signing the data centre industry's first agreement with a SMR provider and pioneering the use of fuel cells a decade ago. Powering AI infrastructure responsibly is a global priority. With Equinix's operational expertise, trusted supply chain, and close partnerships with the US and global governments and utilities, we are poised to deliver safe, secure and reliable AI solutions for our customers and the communities we serve."
NANO Nuclear Advances KRONOS Microreactor and Reports Strong Cash Reserve
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) announced its third fiscal quarter results, revealing significant milestones in the development of its KRONOS Micro Modular Reactor (MMR). The company advanced U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing efforts, initiated preparatory work for deployment at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and resumed Canadian licensing activities, positioning KRONOS as a leading contender in the North American microreactor race.
Financial Highlights
Cash Position: $210.2 million as of June 30, 2025, up from $28.5 million on September 30, 2024, following a series of equity raises.
Operating Cash Use: $14.7 million in the first nine months of FY2025, driven by KRONOS R&D and operations.
Investing Activities: $12.9 million, including $9.1 million for KRONOS MMR acquisition and $3.8 million for a demonstration facility in New York.
Financing Activities: $209.3 million net cash inflows.
Filed first universal shelf registration statement to support long-term growth.
Strategic and Technological Progress
Licensing: Progressed NRC construction permit application preparations for UIUC site; resumed Canadian licensing, building on KRONOS’ prior Phase 1 CNSC review.
Partnerships: Signed collaboration agreements with UIUC and AECOM for engineering and environmental studies.
Innovation: Advanced proprietary Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology under SBIR Phase III, targeting potential commercial sales in 2025–2026.
Vertical Integration: Signed MOU with UrAmerica to secure nuclear fuel supply chain resilience.
Operational Expansion and Leadership Strengthening
Recruited over a dozen engineers in the Midwest to accelerate KRONOS development.
Acquired a 2.75-acre engineering and manufacturing facility in Oak Brook, Illinois.
High-profile appointments include former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Vice Admiral Charles J. Leidig Jr., and Intel’s Seth Berl, bolstering technical and policy expertise.
Market Recognition
Added to the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index in August 2025, qualifying NNE for inclusion in the $4 billion Global X Uranium ETF (URA).
This inclusion provides broader institutional investor exposure and market liquidity.
Industry Context
NANO Nuclear’s progress comes amid a global nuclear resurgence driven by AI data center growth, industrial reshoring, electrification, and bipartisan policy support in the U.S. Nuclear microreactors are increasingly seen as vital for clean, reliable, zero-emission power in both centralized and remote settings.
Outlook
The company targets submitting a U.S. NRC construction permit application by late 2025 or early 2026 and aims to be the first to license a commercial microreactor in Canada. Management also plans to pursue commercial agreements with AI data center operators and remote communities, alongside potential vertical integration opportunities through M&A.
CEO James Walker emphasized that KRONOS’ proven reactor design, substantial prior R&D investment, and integrated supply chain strategy give NANO Nuclear a competitive edge in the rapidly growing advanced reactor market.
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The shipment of GNF2 Fuel rods arrive at PNNL (Image: PNNL)
A fuel rod to release Radioactive gases for analysis (Image: PNNL)_96509.jpg)
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