The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced conditional commitments to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to five advanced reactor developers through its HALEU Availability Program. HALEU, enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235, is vital for many next-generation reactors, which are key to supporting the nation’s clean energy objectives. The initiative addresses the current lack of domestic commercial HALEU enrichment capacity in the United States.

HALEU fuel pellets

Established in 2020, the HALEU Availability Program aims to ensure a reliable domestic supply of HALEU for research, development, demonstration, and commercial purposes. The DOE received requests from 15 companies and selected five—Kairos Power, Radiant Industries, TerraPower, TRISO-X, and Westinghouse—based on specific prioritization criteria. Three of these companies are slated to receive fuel as early as 2025. The DOE stated: “The allocated HALEU supports both Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) Pathway 1 award recipients, companies planning to demonstrate in the DOME test bed, along with some ARDP risk reduction awardees.”

The DOE will now begin the contracting process, with some companies potentially receiving HALEU this fall. The allocation process is ongoing, with plans to include additional companies in future rounds. These efforts build on recent contracts to support HALEU deconversion services, strengthening the domestic supply chain for advanced nuclear technologies.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the program’s importance, stating: “The Trump Administration is unleashing all sources of affordable, reliable and secure American energy – and this includes accelerating the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. Allocating this HALEU material will help US nuclear developers deploy their advanced reactors with materials sourced from secure supply chains.” The initiative underscores a commitment to advancing nuclear innovation while ensuring supply chain reliability.

Among the recipients, TRISO-X, a subsidiary of X-energy, will use the HALEU for fuel production at its planned facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. TRISO-X President Joel Duling noted: “This first allocation is a critical step forward to bridge the HALEU availability gap in the nuclear supply chain with existing material.” He added: “Coupled with the HALEU Availability Program and other efforts, we expect the commercial sector to further bridge the availability gap to support the delivery and scalability of the advanced reactor fleet.”

Kairos Power will utilize the HALEU to produce TRISO fuel pebbles for its Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, collaborating with Los Alamos National Laboratory. These allocations mark a significant step in supporting the development and deployment of advanced reactors, contributing to a sustainable energy future through reliable and innovative nuclear solutions.