The Advanced Reactor Demonstration Projects (ARDP) will speed up the demonstration of advanced reactors through cost-shared partnerships with U.S. industry. These innovative nuclear technologies are ideally sized and designed to provide flexible electricity output and as process heat for a wide range of industrial heat applications as well as desalination and hydrogen production. Learn more.

After receiving an additional $2.5 billion, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Projects will support design, licensing, construction, and operation of two advanced reactor technologies, the TerraPower Natrium and the X-energy Xe-100 reactors. This funding builds on the initial $160 million from DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, awarded in 2020.

Find details about the program’s awardees below and download the funding opportunity.

X-energy – Xe-100 Reactor

• Location: Seadrift, Texas at Dow UCC Seadrift Operations. 
• Size: Four-unit, 320 MWe-net plant
• Technology: The high-temperature gas-cooled design leverages decades of development and a robust fuel form. 
• Benefits: Advanced design provides flexible electricity output well suited for integration in a renewable-heavy grid. The Xe-100 reactor can also meet the process heat needs for a wide range of industrial heat applications that are difficult to decarbonize.

TerraPower – Natrium Reactor

• Location: Kemmerer, Wyoming near the retiring Naughton coal plant; the choice of this location has been well received by local leaders and the community.
• Size: Single-unit, 345 MWe-net plan
• Technology: Natrium is a sodium‐cooled fast reactor design that leverages decades of reactor technology and fuel development.
• Benefits: This high temperature reactor, coupled with thermal energy storage for flexible electricity output, is well suited for a renewable-heavy grid.
   

Advanced nuclear reactors hold enormous potential to power our homes and businesses. They emit close to zero greenhouse gas emissions, efficiently use fuel, leverage inherently safe designs, 
and are well-suited to provide clean, firm power in complement with renewables like solar and wind. These innovative, nuclear technologies are ideally sized and designed to provide flexible electricity output and as process heat for a wide range of industrial heat applications as well as desalination and hydrogen production.  

The construction of these advanced demonstration reactors supports the development of future demonstrations and deployments by addressing the licensing, construction and operational risks of first-of-their-kind advanced reactor designs that have the potential to significantly improve upon the operational and safety characteristics of the current generation of reactors. 

The ARDP projects have the potential to create new short- and long-term jobs, many of which are expected to be filled by union members with positive, lasting economic impacts on the communities in which they operate. 

By rapidly developing these advanced reactors that hold so much promise, we can expand access to clean energy and take advantage of market opportunities and preserve key infrastructure and supply chain capabilities.

Funding for the existing advanced reactor demonstration program (DE–FOA–0002271). 

• View the OCED Advanced Reactor Demonstration Projects Factsheet.
• For more information on the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Projects, contact OCED@hq.doe.gov.  
   

OCED News