Using AI to Reduce Reactor Licensing Timelines

• DOE Using AI to Prepare NRC Licensing Documents
• NRC’s Progress in Using AI to Regulate the Nuclear Industry
• X-Energy Files for IPO
• X-Energy Inks Co-Development Plan with Talen Energy
• Holtec International Updates SMR Agreement with Mitsubishi
• Texas Startup Launches Bid to Build Uranium Conversion Facility
• Global Laser Enrichment Lands $99 Million of Incentives for Paduach, KY, Project
• NASA Plans Test of Nuclear Electric Propulsion in 2028 Mars Mission

Using AI to Reduce Reactor Licensing Timelines

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Argonne National Lab (ANL), Microsoft, and Everstar, has successfully demonstrated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline the nuclear regulatory process.
• The team used AI mapping to convert a safety analysis document required under DOE’s authorization pathway for advanced reactor demonstrations into U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing documents for commercial deployment.
• This accomplishment shows the role AI can play in improving the efficiency and accuracy of nuclear technology licensing, and could one day help to accelerate timelines for the commercial deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

Everstar’s Gordian AI solution, built on the Microsoft Azure platform, was recently used to convert the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis for DOE’s National Reactor Innovation Center’s (NRIC) Generic High Temperature Gas Reactor (HTGR) into sections equivalent to an NRC license application.

The final 208-page document took one day to generate. Typically, the process takes a team of people between four and six weeks to complete the same task. The AI tool also comprehensively identified missing or incomplete information needed to successfully complete an NRC application.

Gordian was engineered for nuclear-grade technical work and is equipped with physics and engineering tools, as well as the ability to understand and integrate data through semantic ontology mapping, to ensure that the final output is computed and verified, not inferred.

AI’s ability to accelerate the development of a licensing application from weeks to days does not mean that nuclear licensing experts are out of a job. The approach maintains a critical principle where experts design, AI accelerates, and experts validate.

Gordian’s output was subsequently evaluated by an expert for accuracy, missing information, consistency, as well as grammar and structure to ensure that its results were correct and adhered to rigorous professional standards. The output was found to demonstrate quality, rigor, and depth, as well as the tool’s ability to identify and qualify its own gaps in data knowledge.

“Now is the time to move boldly on AI-accelerated nuclear energy deployment,” said Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors. “This partnership, combined with the President’s orders, represents more than incremental ‘uplift’ improvements. It has the potential to transform how industry prepares its regulatory submissions and deploys nuclear energy while upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance.”

“Nuclear is poised to solve today’s critical energy challenges,” said Kevin Kong, CEO and Founder of Everstar. “We’re excited to partner with INL to meet the moment, working together to accelerate regulatory review and commercialization.”

“Our collaborations with DOE, INL and across the industry are demonstrating how we can effectively bring secure, scalable AI technologies to solve key energy challenges and achieve the broader national and economic security goals envisioned by the Department’s Genesis Mission,” said Carmen Krueger, Corporate Vice President, US Federal, Microsoft.

Looking ahead, the team plans to strengthen and validate their approach. A reviewing agent will evaluate AI-generated documents against NRC guidance to validate that they are ready for submission. A benchmarking rubric is also being developed to provide a confidence grade for the Gordian’s performance

Note to readers: The use of the term “gordian” is not an artificially composed trade name. The cutting of the Gordian Knot is an ancient Greek legend associated with Alexander the Great in Gordium in Phrygia, regarding a complex knot that tied an oxcart. Reputedly, whoever could untie it would be destined to rule all of Asia.

In 333 BC, Alexander was challenged to untie the knot. Instead of untangling it laboriously as everyone expected, he dramatically cut through it with his sword. This is used as a metaphor for inventing an unexpected method to solve a seemingly intractable problem. The use of the term for software implies its ability to solve such problems by innovative means.

New AI Tools Pick Up Speed – the INL HTGR Test Case

Currently, the nuclear licensing process involves multiple rounds of manual document reviews and minor clerical adjustments, which can take years to complete. The HTGR test case is the latest in a growing list of examples that successfully demonstrates the role AI can play in improving the process.

Earlier this year, INL collaborated with Microsoft to deploy a Microsoft Azure AI-based solution to show how advanced AI models can generate engineering and safety analysis reports, a key part of applications for construction permits and operating licenses for nuclear power plants.

These early wins are only the beginning. A recent study by NRIC highlighted how AI has the potential to reduce both document development time and regulatory review cycles by as much as 50 percent, while simultaneously improving accuracy, consistency, and traceability.

Reference: “Evaluation of AI-Enabled Digital Documented Safety Analysis,” INL/RPT-25-87369, Revision 1, 03/18/2026. Synopsis: Proposed Methodology for Evaluating Microsoft’s Generative AI for Permitting Solution Accelerator in Nuclear Safety Basis Document Generation within NRIC’s Digital Ecosystem..

What’s Different About this AI Tool?

Given the growing number of startups that have or are developing AI tools to support NRC licensing processes, Neutron Bytes asked CEO Kong to describe the key elements that set Everstar apart from the pack. Here’s what he said via email reply.

“What differentiates Everstar is architecture. Most AI tools in nuclear are point solutions: document search, single-query answers, narrow optimization. Gordian is a compound agentic system that handles end-to-end, long-horizon workflows — hundreds of steps of research, planning, drafting, evaluation, and calculation across overlapping regulatory frameworks. We integrate physics-based reasoning and deterministic simulation alongside generative AI, which is what allows our outputs to meet the rigor of nuclear safety standards, validated against national lab benchmarks. This is transformative for design, engineering, operations, QA, licensing, and procurement teams. We understood that a better search tool won’t cut it; we’re building the engineering intelligence layer that lets nuclear professionals do bigger work.”

Other AI Tool Developers at Work

These are examples of other AI software tool developers who are working to address the complexity of the NRC licensing process.

• Atomic Canyon, San Luis Obispo, CA: Developed Neutron, an AI search and generative platform trained on the NRC’s ADAMS database to help developers search billions of pages of records and automate technical document retrieval for compliance.
• Nuclearn: Phoenix, AZ: Provides an AI platform designed specifically for the nuclear industry to automate complex workflows, including regulatory reporting and plant operations documentation.
• Blue Wave AI Labs, West Lafayette, ID: Offers AI-driven solutions like ThermalLimits.ai and Eigenvalue.ai to forecast reactor performance; their tools help licensees provide high-precision data required for NRC safety and fuel cycle submissions.
• Inductive, San Francisco, CA: A startup described as “TurboTax for nuclear licensing,” building AI tools for regulatory document generation and collaboration to compress the time it takes to create first drafts of license applications.

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NRC’s Progress in Using AI to Regulate the Nuclear Industry

• Uses and Impacts of AI at the NRC

The NRC itself has moved to adopt these technologies internally. In early 2025, the commission launched its own AI-powered ADAMS Public Search tool to help the public and industry stakeholders navigate filings more efficiently.

Under current 2026 policy initiatives, the agency is also exploring “human-in-the-loop” AI workflows to cut the review time for new reactor designs by up to 50%. The NRC’s website lists in bullet form its recent accomplishments in using artificial intelligence.

The web site also contains comprehensive information on how the agency has used AI so far. There are sections on the NRC’s enterprise wide AI strategy, its process for reviewing new AI technologies, descriptions of current use cases, and a section on frequently asked questions.

• Issued SECY-24-0035, “Advancing the Use of Artificial Intelligence at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” (ML24086A002), on April 24, 2024, summarizing potential AI applications and the staff’s overall approach to effectively leverage AI at the NRC.
• Set goals for AI implementation, appointed a Chief AI Officer, and created an AI Governance Board to ensure the agency’s use of AI is adequately managed.
• Created an AI Steering Committee to promote cross-office coordination and direction to prepare the agency for the future use of AI in NRC-regulated activities.
• Published an AI principles paper with Canada and the United Kingdom on September 5, 2024 (ML24241A252), outlining guiding principles for the safe and secure use of AI in nuclear applications.
• Issued the final report on “Regulatory Framework Gap Assessment for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Applications” in October 2024 (ML24290A059).
• Hosted a public workshop at NRC Headquarters on September 24, 2025, to discuss the results of potential regulatory gaps and considerations in evaluating AI technologies.
• Published the NRC’s AI Strategic Plan on September 29, 2025 (ML25269A196).

While the companies above provide commercial products, much of the foundational AI technology for regulatory filings is being developed through these entities:

• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) : Developed the Regulatory Context Protocol (RCP), which uses AI agents to represent both the applicant and the regulator. This “digital express lane” automates communication and ensures that advanced reactor submissions align with NRC standards. Three main projects for this work include: (1) Developing and testing AI applications to improve efficiency of plant operations while maintaining the gold standard for safety, (2) Creating a framework to speed up reactor licensing, and (3) Developing a tool to detect plant faults early.
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) : Partners with private firms (like Atomic Canyon) to use the Fronttier Supercomputer to train Large Language Models (LLMs) on specialized nuclear jargon. The LLMs will use high-performance computing to create high-fidelity simulations that ensure the safety of designs while accelerating licensing with artificial intelligence to automate aspects of the review process.
• Idaho National Laboratory: The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) have announced a collaboration to use Microsoft’s Azure cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to streamline the nuclear permitting and licensing application process. INL will leverage a Microsoft-developed solution built with Azure AI services to generate engineering and safety analysis reports.The technology is designed to ingest and analyze nuclear engineering and safety documents, and generate documentation required by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and DOE for nuclear licensing.
• The INL and NVIDIA have partnered to support nuclear energy deployment through artificial intelligence. The purpose of the collaboration is to accelerate deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies and and reduce the costs of implementing them. The goa is develop an integrated platform that connects supercomputers, experimental facilities, AI systems, and key datasets across multiple major scientific domains. The INL / NVIDIA partnership will work to accelerate nuclear energy deployment by using AI to design, license, manufacture, construct, and operate reactors with human-in-the-loop workflows, enabling at least 2X schedule acceleration and greater than 50% operational cost reductions. INL is also developing in-house AI tools including potential applications for fuel fabrication facilities.

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NRC Releases Part 53 for Advanced Reactors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a new licensing pathway that accelerates safe, innovative reactor deployment and reinforces U.S. energy leadership, marking the first new reactor licensing framework in decades. The rule, known as Part 53, is designed to provide optionality and make licensing advanced nuclear reactors faster, simpler, and more cost-effective while continuing to prioritize safety.

NRC Web Page Reference: Part 53 – Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Commercial Nuclear Plants (10CFR53

Part 53 introduces technology-inclusive safety standards, increased flexibility for reactor design and operation based on risk analyses, graded security requirements, and innovative features to accelerate reactor deployment. The improvements are expected to reduce unnecessary duplication in reviews, allow developers to complete licensing in stages, establish clearer, more predictable pathways to approval, and could significantly reduce the time and cost required to bring new reactors online.

Part 53 offers a comprehensive new approach to license advanced reactors, including non-light-water reactors, across their life cycles. It provides designers and operators with more flexibility in how they build and run their plants while continuing to ensure safety. The rule builds on years of research and collaboration with the Department of Energy, industry, and the public, including extensive public meetings and comments on the proposed rule published Oct. 31, 2024.

“This final rule is a major NRC action that provides a clear risk-informed, technology-inclusive licensing framework to enable new nuclear to safely move faster from concept to construction,” NRC Chairman Ho K. Nieh said.

The Commission directed the staff to finalize the rule and supporting guidance, which can be used for any type of reactor. Part 53 fills a long-standing gap: existing regulations in Part 50 were built around light-water reactor technology, while many new designs use different approaches. Under Part 53, applicants will no longer need to seek exemptions from light water reactor based requirements.

Part 53 is part of a broader national effort to modernize how the United States regulates nuclear energy, supported by laws like the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act of 2019. The NRC completed Part 53 almost two years ahead of the deadline required by NEIMA. The new framework sets the stage for several upcoming rules in the next few months under Executive Order 14300, which will revolutionize reactor licensing.

This is the first new set of regulations to address initial reactor licensing since 1989, when the NRC created Part 52, and the first major update to reactor licensing standards since 1956, when the Atomic Energy Commission issued Part 50.

Part 53 will take effect 30 days after it appears in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. The NRC is also publishing nine guidance documents, with additional guidance to follow.

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X-Energy Files for IPO

Financial wires services report that X-Energy has filed for an initial public offering. A few years ago X-Energy briefly inked a SPAC deal to raise revenue but exited it in less than a year. Instead, the firm raised funds from private investors.

The company raised roughly $700 million late last year in a deal led by Jane Street with participation from investors including ARK Invest, Galvanize, Point72, and Ares Management funds. A deal to go public through a merger with a blank-check firm backed by private equity company Ares Management ended in 2023.

The curent offering is being led by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, Jefferies Financial Group Inc., and Moelis & Co. The company will be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol XE.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The proposed initial public offering remains subject to the completion of the SEC review process as well as market and other conditions.

X-Energy designs next-generation nuclear reactor technologies and makes advanced nuclear fuel. Its reactors use Triso fuel pellets, or tristructural isotropic, poppyseed-sized uranium beads that burn hotter and longer than conventional fuel.

X-energy is using its small modular reactor and TRISO-X fuel in projects with Dow Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and Centrica.

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X-Energy Inks Co-Development Plan with Talen Energy

X-energy Reactor Company, LLC, a developer of advanced nuclear reactors and fuel technology, and Talen Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: TLN), an independent power producer, signed a Letter of Intent to assess deploying X-energy’s XE-100 small modular reactors (SM”) in Pennsylvania and across the PJM Interconnection Regional Transmission Organization (PJM) market. X-energy and Talen will explore opportunities to deploy three or more four-unit XE-100 plants to add baseload capacity to meet growing energy demand from onshoring of manufacturing, data centers, and electrification.

Under the agreement, X-energy and Talen plan to conduct early-stage project development activities, including feasibility studies, site evaluations, and a project execution framework. While specific siting parameters are not yet final, the companies intend to assess opportunities to transition fossil-fired generation to nuclear power through X-energy SMRs, leveraging established infrastructure, transmission connectivity, and workforce resources.

X-energy is currently developing more than 11 GW of new nuclear capacity across commercial partnerships in the United States and United Kingdom. In Texas, X-energy and Dow are co-developing a proposed four-unit plant to power industrial processes under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. This project is expected to be followed by Energy Northwest’s Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, the first of several X-energy and Amazon projects to deploy at least 5 GW of new nuclear by 2039, as well as a 6 GW commitment from Centrica for the United Kingdom’s first fleet of advanced reactors.

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Holtec International Updates SMR Agreement with Mitsubishi

On March 14, 2026, at the Indo-Pacific Energy Ministerial & Business Forum (IPEM), Holtec International joined Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Hyundai Engineering & Construction in signing a trilateral agreement to advance the deployment of Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactor in the Indo-Pacific region. This is an update to a similar agreement between the two firms inked in 2016.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Richard Springman, President of Global Clean Energy Opportunities and International Programs at Holtec International; Soichi Hamamoto, Executive Officer and Group President, Energy & Industrial Systems at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; and Chan-ho Ahn, Principal Vice President, New Energy Division at Hyundai Engineering & Construction.

The signing was formally witnessed by senior United States and Japanese government officials, including U.S. Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum and Ryosei Akazawa , Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI) of Japan, underscoring strong U.S.–Japan alignment and allied cooperation on energy security.

This U.S.–Japan–Korea collaboration brings together U.S. reactor technology and manufacturing capacity, Japanese instrumentation and control systems, and Korean EPC execution to support deployment of secure and reliable baseload energy infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region using Holtec’s SMR-300. The partnership aligns with government priorities on energy security, supply-chain resilience, and long-term energy leadership.

A spokesperson for Holtec told Neutron Bytes, “We have begun ground work at the site (in Michigan) and projected completion and grid connection in 2031.” Last December Holtec sent documents applying for early construction activities to the NRC for twin 300 MW PWR type SMRs to be built at the Palisades Nuclear site in Michigan.

The NRC staff received a Limited Work Authorization (LWA) application to conduct certain early construction activities for a dual-unit SMR-300 plant located at the Palisades Energy Center (Pioneer Unit 1 and Pioneer Unit 2). This LWA request is part of a two-part application for a construction permit.

On February 27, 2026 (91 FR 9892), the NRC staff published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that it has accepted the application for docketing and will perform a detailed technical review. For more information about the application, see the NRC web page Pioneer Units 1 and 2 Limited Work Authorization Application.

In terms of customers for the power from the SMRs, the Holtec spokesperson said, “We intend to have the reactors in front of the meter, so on the grid, but it’s too early to say who a customer may be, understanding that the PPA we have for restart allows for those cooperatives to have a right of first refusal on the power from the SMRs.”

The Holtec spokesperson said that the reported issues with the steam generator “were resolved last year and the plant is on track for restart in the first half of 2026.”

Holtec did not provide any updates on its plans to build SMRs in Utah other than to say the effort is ongoing. The company declined to comment on a planned IPO that was reported by Barron’s in June 2025.

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Texas Startup Launches Bid to Build US Uranium Conversion Facility

• FluxPoint Energy says America cannot rely on foreign-controlled nuclear fuel processing
• The US has just one commercial conversion facility – Metropolis Works Illinois.

(NucNet contributed to this report) A Texas-based startup has launched an effort to build what would be the first US uranium conversion facility in 70 years with first production planned for 2030-2031. FluxPoint Energy said the facility would restore a domestic capability that has become “an unacceptable chokepoint” in the nation’s nuclear fuel supply chain. The company announced plans this week to convert uranium oxide into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) at a Texas facility.

FluxPoint is targeting an initial capacity of 2,500 metric tons of uranium per year of UF6 processing, with the potential for adding additional production trains at the same capacity, depending on market conditions. First production is targeted for 2030 or 2031.

FluxPoint, which has offices in Texas and Virginia, was founded by Mike Chilton, who has more than 30 years of experience in uranium processing and nuclear fuel development.

“America cannot lead in nuclear energy while relying on foreign-controlled fuel processing,” said Chilton. “FluxPoint was created to restore a critical piece of our nation’s energy infrastructure – ensuring that US reactors have access to a secure, domestic fuel supply.”

FluxPoint says it has secured the land for its planned Texas facility, begun front-end engineering design studies, completed technical feasibility and market studies, and begun engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The company is targeting first production in 2030-2031.

Separately, the firm did not in its press release identify the it says it has secured for the project. Given that one of its two business offices are in Houston, TX, it is likely site is within reasonable driving distance of that city. South Texas is home to multiple insitu recovery (ISR) uranium mining operations.

Competition for Conversion Services

On March 18, 2026, United States Uranium Refining & Conversion Corp, (NYSE:UEC) received a docket number from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its planned uranium conversion facility. This follows the Company’s previously submitted Letter of Intent to pursue a license under 10 CFR Part 40. The next step in the licensing process is the initial Pre-Application Engagement with the NRC.

The formal license application is expected to be submitted once engineering and design activities, currently underway with Fluor, are complete and a site has been selected. The siting process has identified several viable locations in various states that are under consideration. Multiple factors, including local incentives, workforce, utilities, highway, rail and port logistics and industry synergies, are evaluated in determining a a site for a uranium hexafluoride conversion facility.

Power Mag reported the facility is targeting a designed capacity of approximately 10,000 metric tonnes of uranium per year as UF6—representing a substantial share of the estimated U.S. annual demand of 18,000 metric tonnes. The company is notably pursuing the effort to become the only American vertically integrated nuclear fuel supplier, from mining to conversion.

Current Uranium Conversion Capacity

The US has just one commercial conversion facility – Metropolis Works in Illinois, which began operating in 1958. Operator Solstice Advanced Materials, which was spun out from the facility’s original owner Honeywell, announced in February that it expects the facility to produce more than 10 kilotonnes of UF6 in 2026, roughly a 20% increase over the planned 2024 capacity, backed by a $2 billion (€1.7 billion) order backlog and Department of Energy support.

Uranium conversion is the chemical process of turning solid uranium ore concentrate (yellowcake, or U3O8 ) into UF6 gas, preparing it for enrichment. This critical stage in the nuclear fuel cycle purifies the uranium and turns it into a gaseous form, which is necessary to increase the concentration of the isotope U-235 for nuclear fuel fabrication.

No Federal Program For Conversion

In May 2024, Congress passed the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, banning imports of Russian-origin low-enriched uranium (LEU), a supply source that had accounted for roughly 24% of US enriched uranium demand as recently as 2023. US utilities have been using inventories and contracting for alternative supply, but a gap in domestic conversion capacity is expected to open in the early 2030s.

Washington has moved to address the enrichment side of the equation, awarding $2.7 billion in January 2026 to Centrus Energy, General Matter, and Orano Federal Services to expand domestic LEU and HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) capacity and wean the US off of enriched Russian uranium. However, no comparable federal program exists for conversion.

HALEU is an advanced fuel that will be needed for many next-generation reactors and has enrichment levels of 10%-19.75%. LEU is used by existing reactors and has enrichment levels of 3%-5%.

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Global Laser Enrichment Lands $99 Million of Incentives for Paducah Project

• The Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility aims to boost domestic production of enriched uranium in the U.S. and also support cleanup efforts at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site.

According to local news media reports in Kentucky, Global Laser Enrichment has obtained commitments of up to $98.9 million incentives package from the state of Kentucky and McCracken County to help pay for its development of a first-of-its-kind laser uranium enrichment facility in Paducah, KY, at the site of the former Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The project has an estimated cost of $1.76 billion. GLE says it expects to begin enrichment operations by 2030. Padukah, KY, is an Ohio river town that is 220 miles southeast of Lousiville, KY, or 135 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Built in 1952, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site produced uranium fuel for use in nuclear weapons during the Cold War. In the 1960s it shifted gears to commercially produce uranium fuel used to generate electricity in nuclear reactors in the mid-1960s. It ceased operations in 2013.

The $98.9 million in incentives funds are a combination of tax and other economic incentives. The actual awards of the incentives will only take place iof and when GLE reaches its agreed investment and job creation milestones. Of those, $24 million will come through a 15-year agreement preliminarily approved by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority Thursday. Another $3 million in tax incentives will come through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA), also approved by KEDFA. Neither GLE nor state and local officials provided details on the other $72 million due to a a reported nondisclosure agreement signed by area local governments.

Status of GLE’s Laser Technology

In November 2025 GLE, the exclusive licensee of the SILEX laser enrichment technology invented by Australian company Silex Sytems Ltd, began large-scale demonstration testing of the uranium enrichment process at its Test Loop facility in Wilmington, NC, in May. By mid-September, it had collected extensive performance data which the company said gave it the confidence that the process can be commercially deployed.

GLE has now reached TRL-6, as defined by the US Department of Energy’s DOE Technology Readiness Assessment Guide (G 413.3-4A), which means the technology has now been demonstrated in a relevant environment at the prototype or pilot scale, and is ready to move forward to full-scale systems.

GLE said its commercial deployment is backed by more than $550 million in privately funded engineering, design, manufacturing, and licensing activities across North Carolina and Kentucky and is one of six companies awarded an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract under the Department of Energy’s Low-Enriched Uranium program.

The company completed its full license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility in July 2025. If approved, the facility would represent a multi-billion-dollar investment opportunity in the state, creating more than 300 permanent jobs when the plant is in operation.

If commissioned, the facility is expected to re-enrich more than 200,000 tonnes of high-assay depleted uranium tails acquired from the Department of Energy and produce up to 6 million separative work units of LEU annually, delivering a domestic, single-site solution for uranium, conversion, and enrichment.

How Laser Enrichment Works

Laser enrichment is a high-tech way to separate U-235 (the fuel) from the more common U-238. It works because every isotope absorbs light at a slightly different frequency. Scientists use a precisely tuned laser to hit a stream of uranium gas, targeting only the U-235. The laser “excites” or charges these specific atoms, while the U-238 remains unaffected. Because they are now physically different (one is charged, one is neutral), magnets or collectors can easily pull the U-235 away. This process is seen as competitively attractive because it is much faster and uses less energy than older methods.

Other Plans for Urfanium Enrichment Services at Paducah

Separately, in November 2024 General Matter announced plans to build a separate $1.5 billion uranium enrichment facility at the site of the former Paducah uranium plant. General Matter has not yet announced its planned method for enriching uranium at the site.

In August 2025 General Matter has signed a lease with the Department of Energy for the reuse of federal land at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky for a new commercial uranium enrichment facility. The lease covers the reuse of a 100-acre parcel of land at the site and provides General Matter with a minimum of 7,600 cylinders of existing uranium hexafluoride to supply fuel for future re-enrichment operations.

General Matter plans to launch uranium enrichment operations by the end of the decade upon receiving a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Global Laser Enrichment announced in February 2026 that the commission completed an acceptance review of its license application for the slated Paducah facility. The firm intends to re-enrich a portion of the depleted uranium tails inventory at the Paducah Site by 2030.

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NASA Plans Test of Nuclear Electric Propulsion in 2028 Mars Mission

NASA has announced a mission called Space Reactor 1 (SR-1) Freedom. That spacecraft, expected to launch at the end of 2028, would use a nuclear electric propulsion system to go to Mars.

SR-1 Freedom will use a nuclear reactor that NASA plans to develop, generating 20 kw of electrical power using high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU. The reactor will be placed at one end of a truss to protect spacecraft electronics from the radiation it produces. At the other end of the truss will be the Power and Propulsion Element, or PPE. It is being built by Lanteris Space Systems. NASA says development of the reactor will be a “in-house effort” but the agency plans to share the reactor design for SR-1 Freedom with industry.

Between the reactor and the PPE will be radiators for heat rejection from the reactor. The spacecraft will have some solar arrays to provide additional power, particularly immediately after launch and before the reactor is activated.

How Nuclear Electric Propulsion Works

Nuclear electric propulsion uses heat from the fission reactor to generate electricity, much like nuclear power plants on the Earth. That electricity is then used to ionize a gaseous propellant and electromagnetically accelerate it, generating thrust that propels a spacecraft.

Use of Nuclear Electric Proplusion Beyond Mars

The reactor design is intended to be extensible to future missions. That includes Lunar Reactor 1, a reactor to generate power on the surface of the moon that would launch in 2030. A NASA spokesperson said, “In the 2030s we will scale up and move into production capable of producing hundreds of kilowatts to megawatts of power.”

The agency is still studying what to do with SR-1 Freedom once it reaches Mars and deploys SkyFall.

SR-1 Freedom will do more than simply test nuclear electric propulsion. Upon arriving at Mars a year after launch, it will deploy a science payload called SkyFall, featuring three helicopters based on the Ingenuity helicopter that accompanied the Perseverance rover. The helicopters will study a potential future human landing site on Mars including looking for subsurface water ice.

Nicky Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, said at a press conference, “They’re going to have cameras on them to be able to take images, but they’re not going to be full-up heavy science birds.