1
Country: France | Funding: $2.1B
Orano offers solutions for every stage of nuclear energy production: from uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, reprocessing, logistics and engineering to decommissioning and dismantling. The company operates uranium mines in Canada, Kazakhstan and Niger and is one of the world's leading uranium producers. It's offering competitive production costs and advanced recovery technologies. In addition to mining, the company carries out exploration and development projects in uranium-bearing zones, as well as the rehabilitation and modernization of former mines. Orano is also a world leader in uranium processing, ensuring its customers the efficient, safe and responsible management of spent nuclear fuel. By recovering 96% of recycled materials (95% uranium and 1% plutonium) from spent fuel Orano can reprocess the material and produce new fuel, such as mixed oxide fuel (MOX) for nuclear reactors.
Orano offers solutions for every stage of nuclear energy production: from uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, reprocessing, logistics and engineering to decommissioning and dismantling. The company operates uranium mines in Canada, Kazakhstan and Niger and is one of the world's leading uranium producers. It's offering competitive production costs and advanced recovery technologies. In addition to mining, the company carries out exploration and development projects in uranium-bearing zones, as well as the rehabilitation and modernization of former mines. Orano is also a world leader in uranium processing, ensuring its customers the efficient, safe and responsible management of spent nuclear fuel. By recovering 96% of recycled materials (95% uranium and 1% plutonium) from spent fuel Orano can reprocess the material and produce new fuel, such as mixed oxide fuel (MOX) for nuclear reactors.
2
Country: USA | Funding: $1.7B
X-energy produces the Xe-100 - small modular nuclear reactor. It is a fourth-generation, 80-megawatt high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), boasting (according to the company) high stability, efficiency, reliability and safety. The reactor can be scaled into 4-pack power plant thanks to its modular design. Its construction maximizes the use of off-the-shelf components, that can be delivered to the site using existing road and rail routes. The reactor does not rely on any active systems, electrical power or human intervention for safety, i.e. it shuts down and dissipates heat passively (as a result of the low power density). X-energy also produces TRISO-X fuel, which can withstand extreme temperatures. The company also aims to produce power systems for lunar bases.
X-energy produces the Xe-100 - small modular nuclear reactor. It is a fourth-generation, 80-megawatt high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), boasting (according to the company) high stability, efficiency, reliability and safety. The reactor can be scaled into 4-pack power plant thanks to its modular design. Its construction maximizes the use of off-the-shelf components, that can be delivered to the site using existing road and rail routes. The reactor does not rely on any active systems, electrical power or human intervention for safety, i.e. it shuts down and dissipates heat passively (as a result of the low power density). X-energy also produces TRISO-X fuel, which can withstand extreme temperatures. The company also aims to produce power systems for lunar bases.
3
Country: UK | Funding: $677.1M
Newcleo develops small modular reactor that uses MOX fuel technology to reprocess spent uranium from conventional nuclear power plants. The 200 MW reactor uses lead as a coolant. It's an ultra-compact module with improved energy density compared to other technologies. The company also produces FR-MOX fuel (Fast Reactors Mixed Pu-U Oxides) which consists of depleted uranium (a byproduct of the enrichment process in modern reactors) and plutonium (which is extracted from spent nuclear fuel). Thus it intends to close the fuel cycle and avoid mining. Newcleo plans to install the first 30 MW lead-cooled fast reactor in France by the end of 2033.
Newcleo develops small modular reactor that uses MOX fuel technology to reprocess spent uranium from conventional nuclear power plants. The 200 MW reactor uses lead as a coolant. It's an ultra-compact module with improved energy density compared to other technologies. The company also produces FR-MOX fuel (Fast Reactors Mixed Pu-U Oxides) which consists of depleted uranium (a byproduct of the enrichment process in modern reactors) and plutonium (which is extracted from spent nuclear fuel). Thus it intends to close the fuel cycle and avoid mining. Newcleo plans to install the first 30 MW lead-cooled fast reactor in France by the end of 2033.
4
Country: USA | Funding: $186.5M
Standard Nuclear produces TRISO nuclear fuel (from uranium), which is independent of reactor type. The TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) fuel concept was first developed in the 1950s. Poppy-seed-sized uranium particles are coated with ceramic and carbon. They are then packed into larger spheres. This fuel pellet design will be more resistant to meltdown. Standard Nuclear’s modular manufacturing architecture is built for flexibility, allowing it to produce diverse fuel designs on a single production line with minimal switching time and cost. Many nuclear energy startups have announced they will use TRISO in their reactors. The company's clients include Radiant Energy and Nano Nuclear Energy.
Standard Nuclear produces TRISO nuclear fuel (from uranium), which is independent of reactor type. The TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) fuel concept was first developed in the 1950s. Poppy-seed-sized uranium particles are coated with ceramic and carbon. They are then packed into larger spheres. This fuel pellet design will be more resistant to meltdown. Standard Nuclear’s modular manufacturing architecture is built for flexibility, allowing it to produce diverse fuel designs on a single production line with minimal switching time and cost. Many nuclear energy startups have announced they will use TRISO in their reactors. The company's clients include Radiant Energy and Nano Nuclear Energy.
5
Country: USA | Funding: $50M
General Matter intends to produce enriched uranium fuel for nuclear energy applications. The startup is planning to build the first US-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility in Paducah where it will concentrate the element to power nuclear reactors. According to the plan the facility will be operating before 2030.
General Matter intends to produce enriched uranium fuel for nuclear energy applications. The startup is planning to build the first US-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility in Paducah where it will concentrate the element to power nuclear reactors. According to the plan the facility will be operating before 2030.
6
Country: USA | Funding: $18.1M
Clean Core Thorium Energy develops advanced nuclear fuel (ANEEL) for existing reactors and for upcoming small modular reactors. It's a thorium based fuel that allows using existing reactors unchanged. By achieving greater output within existing safety margins, ANEEL Fuel substantially reduces operating costs of existing reactors. Through high burnup fuel performance, it reduces nuclear waste generation by (according to the company) over 85% and reduces waste storage volume. By ensuring proliferation resistance using thorium in ANEEL Fuel, nuclear capacity can be deployed to nations that were previously unaddressable
Clean Core Thorium Energy develops advanced nuclear fuel (ANEEL) for existing reactors and for upcoming small modular reactors. It's a thorium based fuel that allows using existing reactors unchanged. By achieving greater output within existing safety margins, ANEEL Fuel substantially reduces operating costs of existing reactors. Through high burnup fuel performance, it reduces nuclear waste generation by (according to the company) over 85% and reduces waste storage volume. By ensuring proliferation resistance using thorium in ANEEL Fuel, nuclear capacity can be deployed to nations that were previously unaddressable
