Jerrod KingeryTexas A&M University is offering land near its Bryan campus to nuclear reactor companies to help deliver more power to the state’s electric grid.
Chancellor John Sharp announced Tuesday he has offered land to four nuclear reactor companies so they can build the latest small modular reactors (SMRs).
SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors designed for enhanced safety, efficiency and scalability. These reactors offer deployment flexibility for various configurations, and the modular design allows for factory production, reduced construction costs and easier deployment.
The companies – Kairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy and Aalo Atomics – will work with A&M to bring SMRs to Texas A&M-RELLIS, a technology and innovation campus.
RELATED: Texas A&M considering underground tunnel system to alleviate campus congestion
The project, called “The Energy Proving Ground,” looks to address a common challenge for reactor manufacturers: finding suitable sites to build nuclear reactors essential for artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and other high-energy-demand projects.
“Plain and simple: the United States needs more power. And nowhere in the country, other than Texas, is anyone willing to step up and build the power plants we need,” Sharp said. “Texas A&M System stands ready to step up and do what is necessary for the country to thrive.”
A&M officials say they have streamlined the regulatory process, which will allow the four partner companies to quickly get their reactors operational, adding that they have already began the application process with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an early site permit.
Officials say the application is for the potential development of commercial power generation facilities at Texas A&M-RELLIS. The site is expected to house multiple SMRs, with a total electrical output of over one gigawatt.
A&M stated that this project is part of a broader commitment to advancing nuclear research, education and energy production, positioning the Texas A&M System as a leader in sustainable, advanced energy solutions to address the world’s growing energy demands.
Photo courtesy Blueag9, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
