X-energy completes first joint regulatory review under CNSC-NRC Memorandum of Cooperation

X-energy completes first joint regulatory review under CNSC-NRC Memorandum of Cooperation

On August 6, 2021, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) released the results of their first joint regulatory review conducted under their August 2019 Memorandum of Cooperation, an ongoing partnership to enhance regulatory frameworks for next generation nuclear reactors.

X-energy initiated its engagement in the joint review process by submitting a white paper detailing the Xe-100 reactor pressure vessel construction code specifications. The submission supported both the CNSC’s Pre-licensing Vendor Design Review and the USNRC pre-application engagement with the Xe-100 design. The joint review concluded that X-energy’s pressure vessel design and fabrication approach are viable, and provided actionable steps for further design development.

“This streamlined approach allows for the safe deployment of our reactor technology and ensures cost savings for prospective customers,” said Martin van Staden, X-energy’s Vice President of Reactor Development. “X-energy’s top-level goal from the beginning was to demonstrate the safety case for generation IV reactors like the Xe-100 would result in improved economics that allow customers to reduce their carbon footprint in a cost-effective manner.”

“This streamlined approach allows for the safe deployment of our reactor technology and ensures cost savings for prospective customers”

Martin van Staden, X-energy’s VP of Reactor Development

Although regulators in the United States and Canada each have unique processes and frameworks for approving new nuclear technologies, they also have common technical questions and share common goals for the safe development and deployment of next generation reactors. By engaging both regulators in a cooperative manner, developers of these advanced technologies are able to efficiently meet the requirements of both countries, by sharing relevant scientific and engineering results from a joint review.

The white paper submitted to the CNSC and USNRC detailed the relevant construction standards from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers that X-energy plans to use in the design, fabrication and construction of the Xe-100 reactor pressure vessel. The goal was to solicit feedback from the regulators on the applicability of these particular codes, given the safety standards the reactor pressure vessel. This is the first of many steps on the path to licensing in both the United States and Canada. 

Earlier this year, X-energy signed a memorandum of understanding as part of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Demonstration Reactor Program (ARDP) with partner Energy Northwest, a utility consortium serving communities in and around Washington state, and Grant County Public Utility District, one of Energy Northwest’s member utilities, to develop the Xe-100 project as the United States’ first advanced nuclear reactor.

Last fall, Ontario Power Generation identified the Xe-100 as a potential technology for the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP), which aims to have an SMR in operation as early as 2028. X-energy is currently advancing Xe-100 design and engineering work with the utility and is progressing through the CNSC’s Pre-Licensing Vendor Design Review.

“The entire team at X-energy and our Canadian licensing team at Kinectrics were excited to participate in the first joint review activity completed under this memorandum,” said Travis Chapman, head of US Licensing at X-energy. “The experience we’ve gained working with both regulators is incredibly valuable and we appreciate the opportunity to implement practices that lead to more efficient reviews based on the shared insights from the regulators.”

Unlike conventional light water reactors, the Xe-100 reactor pressure vessel doesn’t need to be designed to contain fission byproducts. This is because the Xe-100’s TRISO-X fuel prevents the release of 99.999% of radionuclides on its own even under anomalous conditions such as a loss of active cooling. Still, the Xe-100’s reactor pressure reactor vessel must contain high-energy gas under high pressure, which means it needs to meet the high engineering standards that prevent the possibility of a rupture.

The CNSC-USNRC partnership is an example of what’s possible when the world’s leading nuclear agencies work together. X-energy is proud to expedite the transition to a greener world by participating in this historic partnership that will lay the foundation for a new generation of safe, affordable, and efficient nuclear reactors.

The Joint CNSC-NRC letter and report with observations may be found at the NRC’s website. While the white paper is not being released due to its proprietary nature, a public version will be provided for further CNSC and NRC staff engagement to address the observations provided in their joint review.

About X-energy

X-energy is redefining nuclear energy. It manufactures fuel that seals uranium particles in a protective coating, which makes meltdown impossible and retains the uranium fuel inside forever. X-energy also designs plants that unlock the fuel's energy potential in a process that's as clean as wind or solar. When combined, the result is reliable carbon-free baseload or load following power, produced more safely and affordably than ever before and available anywhere, at any time.

Please visit x-energy.com or connect with us Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

For more information

media@x-energy.com