TerraPower has awarded the major manufacturing contracts for the first Natrium reactor1 enclosure system, a major milestone in establishing the advanced nuclear supply chain.
Bellevue, WA – December 18, 2024 – TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company, announced today it has awarded contracts for the first Natrium plant reactor enclosure system (RES). These awards advance the development and construction of the Natrium sodium-cooled fast reactor and represent a significant milestone in the deployment and commercialization of America’s first advanced reactor.
Partnering with world class manufacturers for this project, TerraPower revealed that:
- ENSA (Equipos Nucleares S.A.) will produce the reactor head.
- Doosan Corporation will supply the core barrel, guard vessel and internal supports for the Natrium reactor.
- HD Hyundai will manufacture the reactor vessel.
- Marmen will build the rotating plug.
“The Natrium design is a game-changing technology, and assembling the right team of vendors to construct the first reactor speaks to TerraPower’s commitment to commercializing this technology and ensuring advanced nuclear fulfills its role in addressing surging global energy demand,” said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. “Our team continues to lead the way on successfully executing the many elements of building America’s next nuclear reactor.”
The Natrium Reactor Demonstration Project is currently under construction in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and is the only advanced reactor project in the Western Hemisphere to move from design into construction, having begun non-nuclear construction on the site this year. These awards are the latest in a suite of procurements and investments that TerraPower has made to ensure the successful deployment of the project.
The Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with an integrated energy storage system. The storage technology can rapidly boost the system’s output to 500 MWe for more than five and a half hours, allowing for seamless integration with renewable energy and an overall increase in grid resiliency. The dispatchable and flexible energy that Natrium provides will lead to faster, more cost-effective decarbonization of the electric grid while producing carbon-free power.
About TerraPower
TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world’s most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world’s public and private sectors to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at terrapower.com.
