ROCKVILLE, Maryland, June 14, 2022 – Maryland-based X-energy and the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) have teamed up to explore opportunities to create jobs and develop clean, zero-carbon energy within the state of Maryland. MEA has awarded grants to X-energy and Frostburg State University to work together to evaluate the economic viability and social-economic advantages of repurposing a specific Maryland coal-fired electric generating facility with X-energy’s Xe-100, an advanced small modular nuclear reactor. A joint analysis of the findings will be delivered to MEA later this year.
“As a company established and growing in Maryland, we have already created more than 300 jobs here since 2019 and we are excited to help our home state explore expanded opportunities for nuclear power in the move toward cleaner, zero carbon sources of energy,” said X-energy CEO Clay Sell. “Next-generation nuclear energy offers Marylanders an opportunity to create a more resilient grid for the future while drastically lowering costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The energy transition can and should build on the experience and expertise of the men and women currently powering communities across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. This partnership will evaluate how nuclear energy can enable clean energy goals and maintain jobs and economic security in energy-centered communities across the state.”
X-energy is deploying the first grid-scale advanced small modular reactor, the Xe-100, under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, a multi-billion-dollar effort to complete the design and construction of X-energy’s innovative high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, the Xe-100. This unique, innovative technology is designed to generate zero-carbon industrial process heat and electricity across numerous sectors of the economy. Each reactor unit can produce 80 MWe and can be configured to scale up to 12 reactor units at a single site to generate almost 1 GWe of power.
“We are excited to partner with local Maryland-based companies like X-energy that are on the vanguard of new, advanced, clean energy technologies that prepare us for the future,” said Dr. Mary Beth Tung, MEA Director. “Their partnership assists us in advancing our clean energy goals efficiently and economically across Maryland, and allows us to potentially host an exciting new technology.”
The Maryland General Assembly earlier this year passed sweeping emissions reductions targets in the Climate Solutions Now Act, setting incremental goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the ultimate goal of achieving net-zero emissions across the state’s economy by 2045. X-energy and Frostburg State’s analysis will assist MEA and policymakers in providing meaningful information relating to energy management, promoting the transfer and commercialization of energy technology from private and public laboratories to citizens of the State, and helping MEA develop strategic plans and implement policies relating to energy supply management.
The methodologies used in the analysis are intended to be used for additional coal replacement candidate facilities in Maryland and other states.
X-energy is a nuclear energy innovation company focused on the development of next-generation, zero-carbon nuclear energy. Based in Rockville, Maryland, X-energy designs and deploys advanced nuclear reactors and manufactures its proprietary TRISO-X fuel to improve the delivery of safe, affordable energy to people around the world. For more information, visit https://x-energy.com or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
Media contact:
Robert McEntyre, Corporate Communications Director, X-energy
rmcentyre@x-energy.com
(770) 548-5571