Nusano Tapped for DOE Launch Pad to Advance Metallic HALEU
Utah-based Nusano has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Reactor Innovation Center to develop a HALEU nuclear fuel production line. The selection falls under the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Program, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of novel fuel technologies. Nusano will utilize its proprietary direct metallisation and isotope separation technology to convert uranium directly into metallic feedstock, entirely bypassing the traditional UF6 gas conversion process.
Modular Production and Future Capacity
The company's innovative approach relies on highly scalable, modular infrastructure. Each 1,200-square-foot modular unit is engineered to produce 5.9 tonnes of HALEU annually. Nusano expects its first commercial unit to be fully operational by 2031. This capacity is crucial, as the DOE projects that domestic U.S. demand for HALEU will reach 50 tonnes per year by 2035 to support a growing fleet of advanced reactors.
Regulatory and Transportation Hurdles
While the technology offers a promising pathway to scale HALEU production, it also introduces unique regulatory challenges. Nusano's novel metallic fuel pathway requires the development of new NRC regulatory frameworks, as current rules are primarily designed around UF6 gas handling. Furthermore, HALEU falls under stringent Category II security protocols. Currently, there is a distinct lack of certified transportation packages capable of moving commercial quantities of metallic HALEU fuel safely and legally.
Bypassing UF6 conversion is a game-changer for efficiency, but the regulatory and transport infrastructure must evolve in tandem with the technology, an industry expert observed. The DOE's support through the Launch Pad Program is essential to navigating these complex hurdles.
As Nusano advances its direct metallisation capabilities, the project will test the agility of the U.S. regulatory framework in accommodating next-generation nuclear fuel cycles.
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