X-energy Plans Xe-100 Helium-Cooled Reactor with 80 MW Capacity for Texas

X-energy is developing the Xe-100 helium-cooled nuclear reactor, which will have an electricity generation capacity of 80 megawatts (MW). The reactor is designed to operate for 60 years and is expected to produce 10 times less spent nuclear fuel per unit of energy compared to existing reactors. X-energy's TRISO-X subsidiary is set to complete its first fuel fabrication factory by 2028, which will support the Xe-100 project. The company is collaborating with Amazon on this initiative, which aligns with the projected doubling of electricity consumption by AI and data centers in the U.S. by 2030.

In Richland, Washington, a cluster of four Xe-100 reactors is targeted to achieve a combined capacity of 320 MW, while a larger fleet in the UK’s northeast aims for a total capacity of 6 gigawatts (GW). However, the estimated cost of electricity from small modular reactors (SMRs) like Xe-100 is projected to be six times higher than that from solar farms. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will oversee licensing for these reactors, which hark back to the first helium-cooled reactor proposed during World War II, although commercial-scale power generation of this type is currently only operational in China. X-energy asserts that its vertically integrated fuel supply will ensure reliable operation.