The Texas A&M University System has offered land near the Texas A&M University campus to four nuclear reactor companies so they can build the latest small modular reactors, or SMRs.
Until now, reactor manufacturers — along with the most powerful names in Big Tech — have not been able to find a suitable place to build clusters of nuclear reactors that can supply the power needed for artificial intelligence endeavors, data centers and other projects, Texas A&M University System said in a news release.
Chief executive officers from four nuclear companies — Kairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy and Aalo Atomics — all have agreed to work with the System to bring reactors to Texas A&M-RELLIS, a 2,400-acre technology and innovation campus in Bryan, Texas, as part of a project dubbed “The Energy Proving Ground.”
At the site, the companies will work toward bringing commercial-ready technologies to the System land and using the project to test the latest prototypes.
The first reactors could be constructed within five years. Once it is completed, power generated at the proving ground could supply power to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Mike Laufer, co-founder and CEO of Kairos Power, said his company could bring one or more commercial deployments to the site. He added that the surging demand for clean electricity has brought nuclear energy to the forefront of the national discussion as a vital source of reliable, carbon-free energy.
Douglass Robison, the founder and CEO of Natura Resources, said that the Texas A&M System has been an integral partner over the past five years, collaborating with the company to develop the Natura MSR-1 demonstration system.
“We are thrilled to continue this partnership with the Texas A&M System to deploy our commercial system, the Natura MSR-100, on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus,” Robison said. “We plan to showcase how our technology can address the energy needs of Texas and the nation.”
Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy, said his hope for the partnership is to develop Integral Molten Salt Reactor, or IMSR, technology at the site in Bryan.
“Our partnership with Texas A&M at its RELLIS campus is an important strategic relationship, which showcases the commercial potential of our small modular power plant and its advanced nuclear technology,” Irish said. “Siting an IMSR plant at the RELLIS campus leverages Texas A&M’s world-class research and nuclear engineering capabilities; provides a source of clean, firm electricity for the local grid (ERCOT); and positions Texas as a leader in America’s nuclear technology sector.”
Matt Loszak, co-founder and CEO, Aalo Atomics, said his company could build up to six Aalo Pods at the site.
“We are excited to partner with an innovation leader like the Texas A&M System, and to jointly help shape the future of energy while creating opportunities for research, education and the Texas economy,” Loszak said. “This collaboration is a pivotal step for Aalo as it provides us with a platform to demonstrate the potential of our factory mass-manufactured nuclear technology to deliver reliable, clean energy that will ultimately power the next generation of data centers and AI infrastructure.”
Texas A&M System officials have streamlined the regulatory process to allow the four companies to quickly get their reactors operational. The System already began the application process with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an Early Site Permit. The application will be for the potential development of commercial electrical and thermal power generation facilities.
The proposed site at Texas A&M-RELLIS is projected to accommodate multiple SMRs with a combined electrical output of more than one gigawatt.
This project at Texas A&M-RELLIS is part of the Texas A&M System’s broader commitment to advancing nuclear research, education and energy production. System officials believe the Energy Proving Ground will position the Texas A&M System as a leader in sustainable, advanced energy solutions to meet the growing energy demands of the world.