Three companies at the forefront of nuclear energy technology have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate fuel technologies to support advancement of next-generation nuclear power.
Curio, which is involved in advanced nuclear materials recycling, on August 6 announced the signing of the MOU with NuScale Power Corp., a developer of small modular reactors (SMRs). Framatome, a France-based industrial company that designs, builds, and services nuclear power reactors, also is part of the agreement. Framatome supplies nuclear fuel, heavy components such as steam generators, and instrumentation systems for the global nuclear energy sector.
The companies in a news release on Thursday said they will work together “to evaluate an integrated nuclear fuel solution designed to strengthen America’s nuclear fuel supply chain, support international nuclear energy markets, and advance the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.” The groups said they will evaluate source-to-product and source-to-fuel pathways for materials recoverable through Curio’s proprietary NuCycle technology, while identifying opportunities for future engineering coordination, fuel development, qualification, fabrication, and commercialization. The collaboration will also seek to facilitate connections across the nuclear supply chain to more seamlessly bring next-generation fuel and product streams to market.
Fuel Cycle Infrastructure
“America’s ability to lead the next era of nuclear energy will depend on more than building reactors—it will require building the fuel cycle infrastructure needed to support them,” said Ed McGinnis, CEO of Curio. “This collaboration brings together leaders in fuel recycling, fuel development, and advanced reactor deployment to evaluate innovative pathways that could strengthen domestic and international energy security, enhance fuel supply resilience, and unlock greater value from existing nuclear materials. By connecting these critical elements of the nuclear value chain, we are helping lay the foundation for a future of clean, sustainable energy.”
The groups said their collaboration is part of an industry recognition that meeting future energy demand will require integrated fuel cycle solutions capable of supporting both domestic reactor deployment and expanding international nuclear energy markets. They said that by evaluating opportunities across the entire value chain, they want to identify pathways that could support commercialization of advanced fuels and fuel-cycle solutions needed to power the next generation of nuclear energy systems.
“Advancing the next generation of nuclear energy demands bold innovation and strong alignment across the entire fuel cycle,” said Tony Robinson, Framatome Inc. president and CEO. “At Framatome, we are committed to working with partners who share that vision and support efforts to strengthen America’s nuclear infrastructure. This collaboration represents the kind of forward-looking, integrated approach needed to unlock new fuel technologies, and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear power.”
Technical Assessments, Feasibility Studies
The companies as part of the MOU will conduct technical assessments, feasibility studies, supply chain analyses, and interface evaluations to identify potential opportunities for future development agreements and commercial partnerships.
“With the most near-term deployable SMR technology, NuScale has long recognized that the nuclear industry requires a strong, reliable, sustainable frontend and backend fuel supply to meet increasing demand,” said John Hopkins, president and CEO of NuScale Power. “We are pleased to work alongside our partners Curio and Framatome to leverage our complementary capabilities, including NuScale’s position as the only SMR to have received U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission design approval, to help advance a more resilient and integrated nuclear fuel cycle for off-takers in the United States and internationally.”
The companies said the collaboration is expected to evaluate how recovered materials from used nuclear fuel can support future fuel and product streams, while leveraging each organization’s expertise across fuel recycling, fuel development, manufacturing, qualification, and advanced reactor deployment.
Curio’s proprietary NuCycle technology is designed to recycle used nuclear fuel and recover valuable materials that can be utilized in future nuclear energy applications. Curio has said that by reducing residual waste volumes by up to 97%, while also recovering strategic nuclear materials, the NuCycle process supports a more sustainable, secure, and economically productive nuclear fuel cycle.
The companies said they expect their collaboration could lead to future agreements focused on technology development, fuel qualification, supply chain development, and commercial deployment opportunities.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
