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5d ago

TerraPower Starts Building First U.S. Utility-Scale Advanced Nuclear Plant in Wyoming

The DOE-backed Natrium demonstration pairs a fast reactor with molten-salt storage to offer flexible power on the grid.

TerraPower is celebrating the start of construction on its nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyo. (TerraPower Photo)
TerraPower's Natrium plant is designed to pair a 345-MW reactor with molten salt energy storage that can boost output to 500 MW.
The Natrium system features a 345-MWe reactor and can be optimized for specific markets. For instance, its innovative thermal storage has the potential to boost the system’s output to 500-MWe of power for more than five and a half hours when needed. Courtesy: TerraPower

Overview

  • TerraPower, which announced the milestone Thursday, began full construction at its Kemmerer, Wyoming site after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit.
  • The Natrium design uses a 345 megawatt sodium‑cooled fast reactor and a molten‑salt heat battery that can lift output to 500 megawatts for more than five hours.
  • The project is part of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, a public‑private effort that supplies federal support to speed first‑of‑a‑kind plants.
  • The company plans to mobilize about 1,600 construction workers and expects roughly 250 permanent jobs once the plant enters service.
  • TerraPower targets initial nuclear operations by the end of 2030 and says private funding plus a reported $2 billion federal grant will finance the build without hitting ratepayers.