“X-Energy” Successfully Completed the Pre-Licensing Procedure for Xe-100 SMR

X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy”), a developer of small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology for clean energy generation, announced that it has successfully completed milestones in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) pre-licensing Vendor Design Review (VDR).

The Company submitted the design of its Xe-100 advanced small modular reactor to CNSC for a combined Phase 1 and 2 VDR process. Upon completion of these phases, CNSC concluded there are no fundamental barriers to licensing the Xe-100, an outcome that increases confidence in proceeding with formal license applications in Canada.

As a result, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission concluded that there are no fundamental impediments to licensing the Xe-100, which enhances confidence in submitting formal license applications in Canada. According to the CNSC, “X-Energy” understands and correctly interprets the purpose of the regulatory requirements for the design of nuclear power plants in Canada. The Commission’s experts have identified certain technical aspects that require further updating to enable X-Energy to better demonstrate compliance with CNSC requirements.

Completion of the pre-licensing phase emphasizes the regulatory and commercial readiness of the Xe-100 SMR and demonstrates the ability to bring high-temperature gas reactor technology to the Canadian market.

It is worth noting that the pre-licensing assessment of the design takes place at the design phase to provide early feedback to identify and address potential regulatory or technical issues, especially those that may lead to significant modifications to the design. This provides an opportunity for nuclear technology developers, such as “X-Energy”, to demonstrate understanding and conformity with Canadian licensing requirements, as well as receive detailed feedback before submitting a formal license application.