Terrestrial Energy and Texas A&M reach agreement on reactor siting

Terrestrial Energy has signed ground lease and research agreements with the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) to exclusively use about 77 acres of land at the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus, in Bryan, Texas, for development of the company's Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). The agreements give Terrestrial Energy control of the site and provide support for completion of site characterization work, environmental evaluations, and testing and research activities related to the IMSR.

The work at the RELLIS campus will generate the site data needed to submit an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a construction permit for an IMSR plant and associated facilities. Late last year, the NRC issued a safety evaluation approving Terrestrial Energy's IMSR principal design criteria.

RELLIS Energy Proving Ground: The RELLIS Energy Proving Ground is described on its website as an "innovation and technology campus" that was established by TAMUS "to bridge the gap between concept and deployment [by bringing] together applied research, industry collaboration, and operational realism in a controlled yet dynamic setting."

The RELLIS site is meant to serve "as a catalyst for innovation across public and private sectors," the website continues.

Terrestrial's plans: Last year, Terrestrial Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with TAMUS and became part of the RELLIS Energy Proving Ground initiative. It is one of four advanced reactor developers that TAMUS has invited to the RELLIS campus.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company has opened an office for engineering and project management at the RELLIS site to provide direction for the multiple activities that are planned there. The company has also joined the Greater Brazos Partnership to help support the development and deployment of advanced nuclear energy in Texas.

Terrestrial Energy is developing its IMSR technology for cogeneration plants that can generate electricity and high-temperature heat-as high as 1,085°F (585°C)-to serve various direct industrial applications. An IMSR plant is designed to deliver 392 MW of electricity and 882 MW of thermal power on a footprint of only 17.3 acres (7 hectares), allowing for siting flexibility and minimal environmental impact.

In May, the company signed an MOU with Riot Platforms to develop large-scale data center projects powered by multiple IMSR plants totaling as much as 4 GW of generating capacity. According to the company, its IMSR plants could use natural gas "as a bridge fuel for early commercial operations and enhanced supply resilience."

DOE projects: The Department of Energy has selected Terrestrial Energy's IMSR technology for its Reactor Pilot Program, which has the goal of fast-tracking the commercial licensing of advanced nuclear reactors. The new agreements with TAMUS will help support two partnership projects that Terrestrial Energy has with DOE for IMSR development-TETRA (focused on demonstration of a pilot reactor) and TEFLA (to demonstrate fuel salt production).

Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish called the agreements with TAMUS "foundational to the commercial IMSR plant development at A&M-RELLIS," saying that they "leverage the engineering and technology excellence within the A&M System."

Calling energy demand "one of the defining challenges of our time," Glenn Hegar, chancellor of TAMUS, said, "The work underway at the RELLIS campus shows how our universities, agencies, researchers, and industry partners can deliver practical solutions that strengthen the grid, support economic growth, and improve lives."