As reported by Reuters, TerraPower expects its Natrium reactors to start generating electricity in Britain by 2034. This is according to Chris Levesque, who is the company’s president and CEO. He says progress on TerraPower’s first Natrium reactor in Wyoming, which is due to be completed in 2031, indicates that a 2034 start in the UK is feasible.
The technology has already cleared regulatory requirements in the United States. Currently, it is being assessed under Britain’s Generic Design Assessment process. However, TerraPower has not yet selected a site for its first UK project, but says its British subsidiary is likely to be based in Liverpool in northwest England, near the country’s nuclear regulator.
Each sodium-cooled Natrium reactor produces 345 megawatts of baseload power and includes storage that can raise output to 500 MW for more than five hours. The reactors use high-assay, low-enriched uranium, known as HALEU.
Britain Supports the Development of SMRs in Bid to Strengthen Energy Security
Britain is backing the development of small modular reactors to strengthen energy security and support climate goals, and it launched an Advanced Nuclear Framework this year to help privately funded projects move forward. That policy backdrop gives TerraPower an opening to establish its first business outside its home market.
Levesque says power generated by Natrium plants would be competitive with other low-carbon technologies, including combined solar-and-battery projects, at less than 100 pounds per megawatt hour. In the U.S., TerraPower already has an agreement with Meta to develop up to eight reactors, and Levesque says the company could pursue similar partnerships in Britain.
Project Factsheet: UK’S TerraPower Nuclear Reactor
Developer / Technology: TerraPower (developed in partnership with GE-Hitachi)
Reactor Type: Sodium-cooled fast reactor paired with a molten salt energy storage system
Baseload Capacity: 345 Megawatts (MW)
Peak Output (with Storage): Up to 500 MW for over 5 hours (boosted via integrated molten salt storage)
Fuel Type: High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU)
Target Power Cost: £100 per Megawatt Hour (MWh)
First US Deployment: Kemmerer, Wyoming (Target completion: 2031)
Target UK Deployment First reactor target start date: 2034
UK Regulatory Status: Under review via Britain’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA)
Proposed UK HQ: Liverpool, Northwest England
Key Commercial Partners: Meta (US agreement for up to 8 reactors)
Project Team
Core Developers and Commercial Partners
- TerraPower: Primary project developer and co-inventor of the Natrium architecture.
- GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH): Co-developer of the Natrium technology and key nuclear island design partner.
- Meta: Commercial Offtake / Strategic Partner (agreement to develop up to 8 Natrium plants in the US).
- PacifiCorp: Utility partner assisting with integration and siting considerations for early deployments.
- HD Hyundai & Hyundai Engineering and Construction (HDEC): Strategic partners cooperating on supply chain, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
- Bechtel: Engineering, procurement, and lead construction partner.
Major Component Suppliers and Engineering Contractors
- BWXT Canada Ltd: Design and manufacturing of the Intermediate Heat Exchanger.
- Curtiss-Wright: Development of the Reactor Protection System (RPS).
- Centrus Energy: Fuel partner collaborating on domestic commercial-scale HALEU supply.
- James Fisher Technologies: Design and build of the fuel injection casting furnace systems.
- Western Service Corporation: Software platform and engineering services for the Natrium simulator.
- Merrick and Company, Mirion Technologies, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Marmen Inc, Thermal Engineering International, KROHNE Nuclear, & Valserve: Supply chain and component engineering suppliers.
Public and Government Backing
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE): Co-funding via the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).
- Great British Nuclear (GBN) / UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Government body evaluating the technology under Britain’s Advanced Nuclear Framework and Generic Design Assessment process.
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