en.Wedoany.com Reported - X-energy, a reactor developer headquartered in Maryland, is adding approximately 70 acres to its nuclear fuel campus in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, reserving space for expanded advanced reactor fuel production and new facility construction.

The newly acquired parcel is adjacent to the existing site of TRISO-X, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-energy, in the Horizon Center industrial park. Following the acquisition, X-energy's total footprint in Oak Ridge will grow from approximately 125 acres to more than 180 acres.

TRISO-X is moving forward with construction of its first commercial fuel facility, TX-1. The additional land will provide space for utility corridors, equipment staging areas, fuel storage, and future expansion.

The expansion aims to establish a large-scale U.S. supply chain for TRISO fuel, a nuclear fuel designed for high-temperature reactors. X-energy plans to use this fuel in its Xe-100 small modular reactor, which is being developed for commercial power generation.

The expanded site gives TRISO-X room to build two additional facilities beyond TX-1. Long-term plans include a second commercial fuel facility, TX-2, as well as the TX-L center dedicated to research and development. TRISO-X President Joel Duling said this milestone enables the company to better plan for long-term growth and expand its vision for a world-leading nuclear innovation campus.

The expansion builds on nearly a decade of operations by X-energy and TRISO-X in East Tennessee. The two companies have been working in the region since 2016 and continue to operate a pilot fuel production line at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

These experiences have helped the company achieve two key milestones: TRISO-X received the first commercial license for HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) fuel manufacturing from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and its fuel is undergoing irradiation testing at Idaho National Laboratory as part of the Xe-100 reactor licensing effort.

X-energy said the additional land will grow in importance as demand for advanced reactor technology rises in the United States and allied markets. Co-locating manufacturing and research facilities on a single campus also helps TRISO-X scale up production while continuing research and development.

Prior to this expansion, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee allocated nuclear energy funds to the project in July 2026, with funding supporting continued development of the fuel campus, including the planned second commercial facility and research center.

The project is expected to support economic development in Roane County and Anderson County while strengthening Tennessee's existing nuclear industry capabilities. For X-energy, the larger site ultimately provides the physical capacity needed to transition from pilot-scale to commercial fuel production. If the planned facilities are completed, the Oak Ridge campus will consolidate fuel manufacturing, storage, and research and development in one location, creating a larger base for the company's reactor programs.