The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted X-energy a construction permit to build four small modular nuclear reactors in Texas, marking a significant step for the advanced nuclear developer. The approval allows the company to proceed with construction of its Xe-100 reactor design, a high-temperature gas-cooled system intended to generate roughly 80 megawatts of electricity per unit. The Texas project is being developed in partnership with Dow Chemical at a site on the Gulf Coast, where the reactors are expected to supply both power and industrial process heat. The permit represents one of the first construction authorizations issued by the regulator for a commercial small modular reactor project in the United States.
X-energy said the approval advances its plans to deploy the reactors by the end of the decade, subject to further licensing and operational reviews. Small modular reactors are attracting growing interest from utilities and industrial firms seeking carbon-free baseload power that can be built at smaller scale and lower cost than conventional plants. The NRC's decision is likely to be closely watched across the sector as a test case for the regulatory pathway facing other advanced reactor developers. Company officials have not disclosed a precise construction timeline, and the project still requires additional approvals before the reactors can begin operating.
Independent reporting synthesized from primary wires and global correspondents.