US regulators approve Bill Gates-backed TerraPower’s Natrium nuclear reactor

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has cleared TerraPower to build its advanced Natrium nuclear reactor in Wyoming, marking the first such approval in nearly a decade and highlighting growing interest in next-generation nuclear power.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted approval to TerraPower to construct a new nuclear reactor in Wyoming, marking the first time in nearly 10 years that the regulator has issued a permit for such a project.

The planned reactor will be built near a retiring coal-fired power station and is part of a broader effort to develop advanced nuclear technologies that could complement renewable energy sources. TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, has been working on the design in partnership with GE Vernova and Hitachi.

The facility will use TerraPower’s Natrium reactor design and is expected to generate around 345 megawatts of electricity. While smaller than traditional large-scale nuclear reactors, it is still significantly larger than many small modular reactor designs currently being developed by other companies.

Advanced reactor technology

One of the distinguishing features of the Natrium system is its cooling technology. Unlike most reactors built over the past several decades that rely on water for cooling, the Natrium design uses molten sodium. TerraPower says this approach offers enhanced safety and operational flexibility.

The reactor will also include a large thermal energy storage system. Excess heat produced during periods of low electricity demand can be stored in tanks containing molten sodium. This stored heat can later be converted into electricity when demand rises or when renewable sources such as wind and solar produce less power.

Supporters believe this capability could make nuclear energy more adaptable within modern power grids that increasingly depend on intermittent renewable energy sources.

Rising interest in nuclear startups

The project comes at a time when technology companies and investors are showing renewed interest in nuclear energy. Growing electricity consumption from data centres and advanced computing infrastructure has increased the need for reliable, large-scale power generation.

Several nuclear startups have attracted funding from technology leaders and venture investors seeking long-term energy solutions. TerraPower itself has secured significant financial backing and has raised more than a billion dollars to support its development efforts.

However, despite the renewed momentum, nuclear energy still faces challenges. Building nuclear plants has historically been expensive, often involving long construction timelines and cost overruns.

Developers of advanced reactors hope that new designs and manufacturing techniques could eventually reduce costs and accelerate deployment, although large-scale economic benefits may take years to materialise.