Milestone Achieved for X-Energy's TRISO-X Fuel Facility
The manufacturing of advanced nuclear fuel is taking a significant step forward in the United States. X-Energy's nuclear fuel subsidiary, TRISO-X, has successfully completed the vertical construction of its first fuel fabrication facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Building the Foundation for TRISO Fuel
The primary building of the massive 214,000-square-foot structure is now fully erected, marking a critical milestone in the development of the TX-1 advanced nuclear fuel facility. With the vertical construction phase complete, the subsidiary will now transition to the next stage of work, which includes interior build-outs, equipment installation, and commissioning.
This facility is specifically designed to manufacture TRISO (Tristructural Isotropic) fuel, a robust fuel form essential for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. The completion of the building's shell paves the way for the production of TRISO-X fuel, which will be utilized in X-energy's Xe-100 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Securing the Fuel Supply Chain
The development of domestic fuel fabrication is closely tied to enrichment agreements. In August 2026, Centrus Energy signed a LEU and HALEU supply agreement with X-energy. This agreement includes customer prepayments to support Centrus's commercial enrichment capacity expansion in Ohio, specifically intended for X-energy's Xe-100 SMRs and TRISO-X fuel deployments.
The completion of vertical construction at the Oak Ridge facility represents a tangible step toward commercializing advanced reactor technology, ensuring that the specialized fuel required for these systems is manufactured domestically.
As the facility moves toward operational status, it will play a pivotal role in certifying and supplying the unique fuel forms required for the next generation of safe, high-temperature nuclear reactors.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.