French small modular reactor (SMR) developer Hexana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dutch cooperative Atoomcoöperatie to collaborate on the potential development of Hexana’s nuclear platform in the Netherlands.

Atoomcoöperatie describes itself as the world’s first citizen-driven energy cooperative for nuclear energy. This partnership will drive coordination and momentum for Hexana’s advanced modular reactor deployment in the Netherlands. The cooperative will cultivate stakeholder engagement, align regional and national interests, and support a favorable environment for regulatory, industrial, and financial cooperation.

Hexana intends to develop a SMR featuring a sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor, integrated with a high temperature storage device. Such a plant would comprise two of these reactors four hundred megawatts of thermal energy to supply a heat storage device. An adjoining heat transfer system will allow it to produce electricity on demand and in a flexible manner to compete with gas-fired power plants, but also to supply heat directly to nearby energy-intensive industries.

Hexana claims that its solution is capable of simultaneously producing low-carbon high-temperature heat (up to five hundred degrees Celsius) and electricity for energy-intensive industries such as chemicals, steel, hydrogen or e-fuels production, essential for their decarbonization program. Beyond industrial applications, the reactor’s thermal storage capability will act as a stabilizer for the power grid. It will compensate for the variability of renewable energy sources. The solution also provides reliable, stable and efficient electricity for data centers and high-demand digital infrastructure, supporting the Netherlands’ ambitions in this sector.

Sylvain Nizou is the CEO of Hexana. She said, “The Netherlands stands as a strategic hub for European industry, with historic clusters that anchor Europe’s economic strength. At Hexana, we aim to bring these industries a decarbonized and resilient energy solution that ensures predictability and energy security. We chose mature, proven sodium-cooled technology, with six reactors already successfully operated in Europe, because decarbonizing industry is urgent and requires mature, reliable solutions that can also enhance grid flexibility. Atoomcoöperatie’s expertise and deep understanding of the Dutch energy landscape will be instrumental in accelerating our deployment in the Netherlands.”

Olguita Oudendijk is the Chair of Atoomcoöperatie. She said, “This partnership reflects a shared belief that nuclear innovation must serve people, industry, and the planet. aligning communities, policymakers, and technology leaders, we can make advanced nuclear energy a cornerstone of a resilient, carbon-free Netherlands. Working with Hexana allows us to translate global reactor expertise into Dutch industrial strength and long-term energy security.”

Atoomcoöperatie says that it wants to co-invest in a new nuclear power plant or SMR, “so we can acquire a share of the ownership and have a voice in the process. We want to enable our members to supply nuclear power at cost. We want to stimulate the nuclear industry in the Netherlands. By collaborating with citizens, businesses, and government agencies, we’re joining forces. This way, we’re building a diverse, engaged energy community of members who contribute expertise, have a voice, and share in the benefits.”

In December 2021, the Netherlands’ new coalition government placed nuclear power at the center of its climate and energy policy. In addition to keeping the Borssele plant in operation for a longer period, the government also called for the construction of new reactors. Based on preliminary plans, two new reactors will be completed around 2035 and each will have a capacity of one thousand to – sixteen hundred and fifty megawatts. The government is also taking steps to prepare the Netherlands for the possible broad deployment of SMRs.

Hexana

RoPower taps Studsvik for SMR core design neimagazine.com

Atomic Canyon inks AI deal with IAEA neimagazine.com

ComEd customers to receive $803M in credits in 2026. What that means for you nbcchicago.com

Linn County commission to review Duane Arnold nuclear rezoning application Dec. 15 condorbusiness.com

Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745

Ambient office = 118 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 90 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 86 nanosieverts per hour

Avocado from Central Market = 122 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 122 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 106 nanosieverts per hour

Pebbles of X-energy’s TRISO-X fuel have begun thirteen months of irradiation testing at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to evaluate fuel performance across operating scenarios and qualify them for commercial use.

TRISO-X is a specialized version of TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) nuclear fuel, fabricated into billiard ball-sized spheres also called pebbles that will be used to power high temperature gas-cooled reactors, such as X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR). The TRISO particles from which the pebbles are created from uranium, carbon and oxygen fuel kernel encapsulated in three layers of carbon- and ceramic-based materials that prevent the release of radioactive fission products. This structure means that the fuel cannot melt in a commercial high-temperature reactor and can withstand extreme radiation and temperatures that are way beyond the threshold of the nuclear fuels that are in use today, according to the US Department of Energy (DoE).

The X-energy Pebble Reactor Test has been named XPeRT. The fuel will undergo irradiation testing in INL’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), a pressurized water reactor which produces neutrons, rather than heat, to evaluate how TRISO-X fuel performs under various power levels, temperatures, and burnup conditions related to the Xe-100 SMR design. Post-irradiation examination at INL and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will analyze the fuel’s fission product retention and structural stability under the full range of expected commercial operating conditions.

Dan Wachs is the National Technical Director for DoE’s Advanced Fuels Campaign. He said that the experimental cycle at ATR is “a huge one” for advanced nuclear. “The test marks INL’s first irradiations of TRISO fuel for advanced reactors since 2020 and the first use a new lead-out test capability at ATR that makes these advanced fuel tests possible.”

TRISO-X has operated a pilot nuclear fuel fabrication facility at ORNL since 2016. It is planning to construct two further facilities at ORNL to manufacture its proprietary fuel for commercial deployment of the Xe-100, which is one of two advanced reactor demonstration projects receiving support from the DoE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The first of those facilities, TX-1, is already being built. TRISO-X is also participating in the DoE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program, established earlier this year to support the develolpment a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain for testing new reactors.

Clay Sell is the CEO of X-energy. He said, “What began in Oak Ridge as a pioneering effort to advance TRISO manufacturing is now leading the way in qualifying the fuel that will power the next generation of reactors. TRISO-X embodies decades of US innovation in fuel design and this testing program brings us one step closer to redefining the standard for safety and reliability in nuclear energy.”

The first deployment of the Xe-100 is planned for the Dow’s Seadrift site on the Texas Gulf Coast. It will supply both power and high-temperature heat to industrial-scale operations. X-energy and Amazon have also agreed to the goal of more than five gigawatt of new nuclear by 2039, beginning with a joint plan with Washington state utility Energy Northwest to build up to twelve SMRs near Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station.

X-energy

RoPower taps Studsvik for SMR core design neimagazine.com

Atomic Canyon inks AI deal with IAEA neimagazine.com

ComEd customers to receive $803M in credits in 2026. What that means for you nbcchicago.com

Linn County commission to review Duane Arnold nuclear rezoning application Dec. 15 condorbusiness.com

Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745

Ambient office = 141 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 130 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 129 nanosieverts per hour

Asian Pear from Central Market = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 143 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 133 nanosieverts per hour

Approaches to bolster nuclear supply chain preparedness were the focus at a meeting convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of its efforts to streamline advanced reactor deployments, including facilitating more robust international cooperation.

More than one hundred participants from thirty-four countries and international organizations including the World Nuclear Association, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the Electric Power Research Institute attended the three-day meeting on approaches to improve nuclear supply chain readiness.

Global interest in nuclear power has risen significantly in recent years as an international consensus on the importance of realizing its transformational potential has emerged. Projections for new nuclear build projects continue to trend upward. However, deploying commercial nuclear power reactors at scale remains complex, with bottlenecks created by bespoke component production and jurisdictional requirements that vary widely. Addressing these challenges is a priority for a growing number of countries considering nuclear power to help shape the clean energy future.

Mikhail Chudakov is the IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. He said, “We all recognize that efforts are underway worldwide to establish and maintain sustainable supply chains for nuclear power. But coordination remains essential. “Harmonization of requirements, especially for codes and standards, will reduce duplication, ease market entry, and help ensure that the nuclear sector can scale up to meet urgent global energy and climate goals.”

The program covered a wide range of supply chain topics, including procurement dynamics for both nuclear power plant operation and new build projects, the challenge of developing and maintaining suppliers and ways to create a reliable supply chain across multiple markets.

King Lee is the Head of Policy and Industry Engagement at the World Nuclear Association. He said, “As global ambitions for nuclear power continue to grow, supply chain considerations are becoming increasingly important. A clear and long-term commitment to a pipeline of nuclear projects is critical for the industry to invest in the global nuclear supply chain capabilities and capacity to capitalize on the opportunities.”

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) in 2022. It aims to aid the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactors through a dual-track methodology. The initiative’s Industry Track focuses on standardizing industrial approaches while the Regulatory Track considers how to harmonize regulatory considerations.

The initiative’s Industry Track published its latest working paper last week on aligning in-service inspection codes and standards to boost SMR exports. In-service inspections are critical for keeping plants functional throughout their operational lifetimes by verifying system integrity and minimizing reactor outages. Accounting for these inspections in the design phase and standardizing practices across jurisdictions could allow a more standardized SMR fleet and hasten their introduction into more markets.

Jeremy Hubert is the Chair of the Working Group on Supply Chain at the Nuclear Energy Agency. He said, “Benchmarking supply chain practices with other industries can help speed up advanced reactor deployments going forward,” said “Regulators are doing their part, but we need more effective collaboration. Full, industry-wide cooperation is needed to optimize the supply chain.”

International Atomic Energy

Australia Says It Will Meet ‘Challenges’ of AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Timeline usnews.com

Europe Approves State Aid For Poland Nuclear Station, First Concrete Planned For 2028 nucnet.org

Ontario, Bulgaria sign nuclear support agreement constructionconnect.com

Nuclear waste company with 400 Tri-Cities workers earns longer contract tri-cityhearald.com

Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745

Ambient office = 98 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 123 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 122 nanosieverts per hour

Tomato from Central Market = 87 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 84 nanosieverts per hour

Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)

As part of a push for expansion of renewable energy in Indonesia, the government plans to rollout ten thousand megawatts of nuclear power by 2040. Malaysia’s thirteenth national plan revives nuclear energy as part of Malaysia’s net-zero commitment, although specific targets will be determined through future study. In 2022 the Philippines mentioned plans to add nuclear power back into the national power mix. In September of 2025, the government established the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM) as the country’s independent nuclear regulator. PhilATOM will oversee all nuclear and radiation-related activities, ensuring that all aspects of nuclear energy infrastructure from siting through to licensing and operation are peaceful, safe, and secure. In 2024, Thailand added six hundred megawatts of SMRS back into its draft PDP. And in April 2025, Vietnam approved the latest iteration of its PDP to include between four thousand to six thousand megawatts of nuclear power by 2053 and eight thousand megawatts of nuclear power by 2050.

These new plans will need significant regulatory, educational, and investment efforts to ensure their success. Many countries in the region slowed or halted training programs for the nuclear field. Vietnam has already identified a need to rapidly rebuild its educational and training pipeline for the technical, regulatory, and policy experts in nuclear energy that will be needed in order to support its planned nuclear plant coming online in 2030.

Before construction decisions can be made, governments must decide what type of reactors they plan to deploy. Many Southeast Asian states are reviewing small modular and advanced reactor designs. However, most of these technologies remain in early stages of licensing and commercial deployment. Of one hundred and twenty-seven SMR designs under consideration globally, only Russia and China have operational SMRs. Key issues remain regarding fuel supply chains, waste management pathways, long-term security and safeguards requirements, and total lifecycle cost.

These energy choices are further shaped by geopolitics: Major nuclear suppliers including Russia, China, South Korea, France, and the U.S. offer distinct reactor technologies, financing models, training programs, political expectations, and deployment timelines. Russia offers a comprehensive “build-own-operate” package that is attractive to many countries considering nuclear power and will even remove spent nuclear fuel, which is often a politically charged issue for governments and communities to deal with. The U.S. meanwhile is racing to reignite its domestic civil nuclear power sector and reclaim technological and export primacy after ceding the field in recent decades to Russia and China, both of which have the power of the state behind their nuclear industry for a potentially faster turnaround time for initiating these significant projects. Yet, choice of supplier brings with it a “one-hundred-year relationship” of servicing and supply, for better or for worse, and Russia’s unprecedented seizure and occupation of Zaporizhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, during the course of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine may give some governments pause in accepting Moscow strategic leverage over a critical energy asset.

To take advantage of the renewed interest in nuclear power, regional governments and their partners will need to take the time to thoroughly evaluate reactor technologies, negotiate supplier arrangements, and develop the domestic expertise necessary to operate and regulate nuclear power safely and securely. Countries in the region need to start now to invest in sustained workforce development, strengthen regulatory infrastructure, and cultivate a public that is informed on the benefits and risks of nuclear energy and the responsibility that comes with it. A coordinated regional approach to nuclear power could help spread the cost burden and streamline nuclear adoption through joint feasibility studies, shared training centers, and regional safety and security exercises. Ultimately, selecting a nuclear supplier is a long-term strategic decision that must reflect each country’s broader national interests. Countries will need to weigh carefully the technical, financial, and geopolitical implications of different nuclear suppliers before making long-term commitments with lasting consequences.