1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
Country: Netherlands | Funding: €42.5M
Thorizon is building a molten salt modular reactor that will use long-lived nuclear waste in combination with thorium as fue. It was founded as a spin-off from the Netherlands’ national nuclear research institute, where molten salt technology was developed quietly for decades. The reactor will use nuclear waste as fuel and provide both power and high‑temperature heat with sufficient safety. Thorizon’s patented cartridges divide the reactor core into smaller modules, unlocking the benefits of off-site series production and modular scalability. Easy to operate, move, and deploy, these cartridges make building reactors faster and more flexible than ever. The first plant construction will start in the early 2030s.
Thorizon is building a molten salt modular reactor that will use long-lived nuclear waste in combination with thorium as fue. It was founded as a spin-off from the Netherlands’ national nuclear research institute, where molten salt technology was developed quietly for decades. The reactor will use nuclear waste as fuel and provide both power and high‑temperature heat with sufficient safety. Thorizon’s patented cartridges divide the reactor core into smaller modules, unlocking the benefits of off-site series production and modular scalability. Easy to operate, move, and deploy, these cartridges make building reactors faster and more flexible than ever. The first plant construction will start in the early 2030s.
6
Country: Switzerland | Funding: $43.5M
Transmutex develops designs and software for an accelerator-powered technology that turns existing nuclear waste into clean energy and produces radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications. The technology is offered to nuclear power plant operators and includes full support from procurement to maintenance. The main idea is mixing thorium with nuclear waste and transforming it into energy (heat or as electricity) and more short-lived elements that will decay within 300 years - less time than it takes for a plastic bottle or a cigarette butt to degrade in the ocean.
Transmutex develops designs and software for an accelerator-powered technology that turns existing nuclear waste into clean energy and produces radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications. The technology is offered to nuclear power plant operators and includes full support from procurement to maintenance. The main idea is mixing thorium with nuclear waste and transforming it into energy (heat or as electricity) and more short-lived elements that will decay within 300 years - less time than it takes for a plastic bottle or a cigarette butt to degrade in the ocean.
7
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
8
Country: USA
Global Laser Enrichment is an energy company that develops laser uranium enrichment technology for nuclear fuel production. Lasers produce precise wavelengths of light, which can then be used to increase the energy of atomic or molecular species consisting of a specific isotope, changing their properties and allowing them to be separated. In the case of uranium, the U-235 isotopes are selectively excited and harvested separately from the more common U-238 isotopes, resulting in an increased concentration of U-235 over the initial uranium feedstock. The enriched product can then be used to produce fuel for generating nuclear energy, including for new reactor types that require higher enrichment levels. GLE is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the highly efficient SILEX uranium enrichment process, invented by Australian company Silex Systems, GLE’s 51% owner.
Global Laser Enrichment is an energy company that develops laser uranium enrichment technology for nuclear fuel production. Lasers produce precise wavelengths of light, which can then be used to increase the energy of atomic or molecular species consisting of a specific isotope, changing their properties and allowing them to be separated. In the case of uranium, the U-235 isotopes are selectively excited and harvested separately from the more common U-238 isotopes, resulting in an increased concentration of U-235 over the initial uranium feedstock. The enriched product can then be used to produce fuel for generating nuclear energy, including for new reactor types that require higher enrichment levels. GLE is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the highly efficient SILEX uranium enrichment process, invented by Australian company Silex Systems, GLE’s 51% owner.
