Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay

US nuclear reactor design company X-energy has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with nuclear engineering firm Cavendish Nuclear to act as its deployment partner for High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs) in the UK.

The partnership will see the companies combine X-energy’s US technology with the project capabilities of Cavendish Nuclear to drive the deployment of HTGRs and develop the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

X-energy’s HTGR is designed to support decarbonisation of industrial heat, electricity and hydrogen and the first units are set to be deployed in the US from 2027 with the UK planning to follow.

Mick Gornall, Cavendish Nuclear, managing director, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Cavendish Nuclear and X-energy to bring together the collective breadth and depth of our expertise and experience to forge opportunities to develop and deploy HTGRs in the UK.

“The UK Government’s choice of HTGRs as its preferred technology for the Advanced Modular Reactor Research Development & Demonstration Programme gives us the opportunity to explore the significant contribution X-energy’s technology can make to decarbonising the wider energy sector.”

The MoU complements Cavendish Nuclear’s support to the three nuclear streams in the UK Government’s Energy Security Strategy: Large Gigawatt Reactors, Small Modular Reactors, and Advanced Modular Reactors such as HTGRs.

Clay Sell, X-energy chief executive officer, said: “Cavendish Nuclear is an experienced and proven nuclear innovation leader with the capabilities and expertise to combine their best-in-class deployment with X-energy’s unparalleled technology at scale to meet the needs of customers, consumers, and businesses across the UK.

“Trans-Atlantic collaboration is a critical part of strengthening global energy security and reliability, and this partnership can help pave the way to safer and cleaner energy for all.”