• Energy Northwest and X-energy have partnered to advance the commercial development of the Xe-100 advanced reactor technology.
• The Xe-100 is an 80 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, scalable to a 320 MWe four-pack, utilizing TRISO particle fuel for enhanced safety and efficiency.
• The project aims to deploy the Xe-100 reactor adjacent to Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station in Washington to support the region’s goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. X-energy received $1.2 billion in federal funding from the US Department of Energy’s ARDP to demonstrate the reactor’s capabilities.

Energy Northwest and X-energy have joined forces in a collaborative agreement to advance the development and demonstration of the state-of-the-art Xe-100 advanced reactor technology. The Xe-100 is an innovative high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that can generate up to 80 MWe of carbon-free power, with the potential for future expansion to a four-pack configuration producing 320 MWe. This reactor design utilizes TRISO particle fuel, ensuring enhanced safety and efficiency.

A key aspect of the agreement is the planned location for the Xe-100 project. Energy Northwest, which owns the Columbia Generating Station, the region’s only commercial nuclear power plant in Richland, Washington, will host the project at a site adjacent to the existing facility. This strategic placement capitalizes on Energy Northwest’s site control and supports the region’s goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045.

To facilitate the development and demonstration of the Xe-100, X-energy secured a significant $1.2 billion in federal cost-shared funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). This funding will enable X-energy to showcase the Xe-100 reactor at Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas, serving as a precursor to the full-scale deployment planned in Washington.

Furthermore, the collaboration between Energy Northwest, X-energy, and Grant County Public Utility District has led to the establishment of the TRi Energy Partnership. The partnership’s primary objective is to construct a cutting-edge Xe-100 plant at the Columbia site, which has the remarkable capacity to generate up to 320 MWe. This ambitious endeavor aligns with the shared vision of meeting the region’s growing demand for dependable, clean energy sources.

The Xe-100 reactor’s unique attributes make it an ideal solution for integrating into large-scale electricity systems, providing a stable and responsive base load and load-following power source. Additionally, its ability to optimize the utilization of intermittent renewables and deliver high-pressure, high-temperature steam for industrial applications adds further value.

Energy Northwest’s unwavering commitment to delivering clean, reliable, and affordable electricity perfectly aligns with X-energy’s dedication to meeting the increasing need for carbon-free energy solutions. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing nuclear technology, showcasing its scalability, and demonstrating its viability within a carbon-constrained electric system.

Drawing from the valuable insights gained through the ARDP experience, Energy Northwest and X-energy are poised to successfully deliver the Xe-100 nuclear power plant in central Washington. With their combined expertise and synergistic capabilities, they are uniquely positioned to champion the benefits of advanced nuclear energy in the region and address the evolving clean energy landscape.