Bill Gates-backed Terrapower is looking for land to potentially build a nuclear reactor and energy storage plant in Utah.
On Monday, the company announced signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Utah Office of Energy Development and land developer Flagship Companies.
As per the MOU, the three companies will together search for a potential site suitable for the nuclear reactor and energy storage plant. The goal is to come up with a preliminary list of suitable sites by the end of 2025.
Site selection for the nuclear reactor and energy storage plant
Terrapower seeks to build its Natrium reactor in the state, which will support Governor Spencer J. Cox’s Operation Gigawatt. Operation Gigawatt is a plan to build an energy ecosystem to serve Utah and other states in the western United States.
The MOU establishes a non-binding framework for cooperation among the three parties.
In a press release, Terrapower said that site selection will be based on an evaluation of a variety of factors, which will include community support, the physical characteristics of the site, the ability of the site to obtain a license from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and access to existing infrastructure.
“Today marks an important step forward for energy in Utah,” said Governor Cox.
He added that Operation Gigawatt is about adding capacity from “diverse sources — nuclear, natural gas, geothermal and more — so families and businesses have power that is affordable, reliable and clean.”
The agreement with TerraPower will help keep rates low, strengthen Utah’s grid, and ensure the state’s future can be as strong as it was in the past.
Flagship Companies, a Utah-based land development firm, will provide access to relevant land data and assist in identifying and evaluating potential candidate sites for reactor development.
US Senator John Curtis praised the agreement and said it will help Utah develop energy solutions that are affordable and clean. “Exploring advanced nuclear technology aligns with our commitment to energy independence and reflects the kind of forward-thinking policy our state and nation need.”
Terrapower’s Natrium reactor
Terrapower’s Natrium is a 345 megawatt (electric) capacity sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system.
The energy output of Natrium can be increased to 500 MW, depending on demand, with the help of storage technology. Terrapower says that the Natrium reactor is the only advanced nuclear reactor design with this feature.
Moreover, the company says that Natrium will use significantly less water than the current light water reactor fleet and small modular reactor (SMR) designs – this makes it better suited for water-constrained regions.
Terrapower had broken ground on the first Natrium project in 2024 in Wyoming, which is slated to be America’s next commercial-scale nuclear power plant.
“TerraPower is excited to collaborate with Utah leaders and communities to explore how Natrium plants can help Utah achieve its economic and energy goals,” said Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower.
“Our Natrium reactor and energy storage system are well-suited for the Mountain West, and will play a vital role in ensuring a reliable grid for future generations.”
Besides, TerraPower is also working with HD Hyundai on fast molten chloride reactors that could be used on ships.
