British energy company Viaro Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based Terrestrial Energy to develop an integral molten salt reactor (IMSR) nuclear project in the UK.

Both parties will collaborate on the implementation of Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR plant technology for a wide spectrum of potential applications, including powering data centres for artificial intelligence (AI),

Currently, these applications depend on fossil fuels for their significant energy needs. The advanced nuclear technology will provide a scalable, carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels for industries.

The IMSR plant uses standard assay low-enriched uranium (LEU), a fuel widely accepted for civilian reactor use, providing a streamlined path for deployment across multiple markets.

Viaro Energy CEO Francesco Mazzagatti said: “The Terrestrial Energy team has successfully circumnavigated a lot of the production and supply chain challenges that other companies struggle with, such as fuel supply, and their experience in this sphere is impressive.

“Viaro has long stated its intentions to support the energy transition in a stable and strategic manner, and we continue to view safe nuclear energy as the most promising response to addressing climate change.”

Viaro Energy and Terrestrial Energy aim to capitalise on the growing demand for nuclear-generated clean, firm electric power and industrial heat. Their initial focus will be on assessing factors such as site viability, regulatory requirements, and macro-economic and policy conditions.

Once this evaluation is complete, they will identify and evaluate potential locations for the IMSR plant.

The companies plan to establish a joint venture (JV) to deliver the project, with Viaro Energy responsible for providing infrastructure and investment. Terrestrial Energy’s role will be to lead the development and procurement of the nuclear technology.

The proposed IMSR nuclear project is expected to reach a final investment decision by the end of this decade.

Upon commencing operations, the plant is anticipated to create more than 120 permanent jobs, in addition to numerous construction and supply chain roles.

Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish said: “Viaro has been successfully growing its market footprint in a core industrial sector while embracing the need for the energy transition, and we are excited about the potential that this partnership holds.

“With this MoU, we will work together on a project to select a site and an industrial application, which when completed would benchmark the capabilities of our IMSR plant and its potential for many other sites and applications.”

Last year, in August, Terrestrial Energy partnered with a Westinghouse subsidiary Springfields Fuels for the design and construction of an IMSR fuel pilot plant at the Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing site in Preston, England.