X-energy, AWS Team Up to Deploy Fourth-Gen SMRs in US, UK
X-energy has announced a significant collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other key players to accelerate the deployment of fourth-generation small modular reactors (SMRs) in the US and UK. The initiative aims to meet increasing power demands, particularly from data centers and AI operations, while preserving American leadership in the AI race and contributing to UK energy security and decarbonization goals.
The agreement involves a joint development project between X-energy Reactor Company, LLC, and the British utility Centrica. They plan to deploy up to 12 Xe-100 advanced modular reactors at the Hartlepool nuclear site in the UK, targeting a total fleet capacity of 6 gigawatts. This project aims to produce enough clean, affordable, and secure electricity to power around 14 million homes, support industrial applications with high-temperature heat, create thousands of quality jobs, and generate substantial economic value estimated at over $54 billion.
In the US, X-energy, AWS, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and Doosan Enerbility have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to speed up SMR and TRISO-X fuel deployment. The collaboration focuses on establishing and cost-effectively deploying X-energy's fourth-generation reactor, aligning with the Trump administration's nuclear advancement objectives. The deployment target is set for 2039, with the specific aim of powering AWS' AI data centers. The SMR model has an expected generation capacity equivalent to 64 units of X-energy's 80MW SMR. Amazon and X-energy are working to establish a supportive ecosystem for X-energy reactor delivery, with Doosan ensuring necessary manufacturing capabilities.
The partnership between X-energy, AWS, and other strategic partners aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear energy, contributing to energy security, decarbonization, and AI advancements in both the US and UK. The collaboration seeks to create jobs, generate substantial economic value, and secure clean, affordable, and reliable power for millions of homes and data centers.
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