TerraPower aims to generate first power from Natrium in the UK by 2034

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 7, Chris Levesque, President and CEO of TerraPower, stated that the company plans to begin generating electricity in the UK using a Natrium reactor as early as 2034. This would mark the first deployment of Natrium technology outside the United States. The UK project has not yet identified a specific site; the company is evaluating potential locations while advancing local regulatory reviews and establishing its UK business presence.

Natrium features a combined design of a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt energy storage system. According to UK Environment Agency documentation, the reactor has a rated electrical output of 345 MW, is classified as a sodium-cooled fast reactor, and is paired with a molten salt energy storage system; TerraPower materials indicate that this storage configuration enables the unit to boost output to approximately 500 MW when needed.

UK regulators launched the first phase of the three-stage Generic Design Assessment (GDA) for the Natrium reactor on June 5, 2026. The first phase primarily involves defining the assessment scope, reviewing the applicant's management arrangements, and preparing for subsequent design reviews. TerraPower submitted its GDA application in October 2025, and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero accepted it in February 2026. The UK project therefore remains at the reactor design regulatory review and potential site evaluation stage.

TerraPower has previously collaborated with KBR to study Natrium deployment options in the UK, with work including evaluating potential construction sites. In June 2026, TerraPower formally established TerraPower UK Ltd. and initiated Phase 1 of the Natrium GDA. Levesque has now further clarified the timeline target for the UK project, but as of September 7, the company has not yet determined the construction location for its first UK project.

The first commercial-scale Natrium project is Kemmerer Unit 1 in Wyoming, USA. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction permit for this project in March 2026, after which TerraPower entered the nuclear facility construction phase; the company plans to submit an operating license application in 2028. The latest project schedule indicates that Kemmerer Unit 1 is targeted for completion of construction in 2031, though completing construction, obtaining an operating license, and commencing commercial power generation are distinct project milestones.

TerraPower is also advancing further commercial deployment of Natrium. In August 2026, the company signed a framework agreement with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, selecting it as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for up to 8 Natrium reactors in the future, with the agreement covering completion, price, and performance guarantee arrangements. These units are intended for deployment in the United States, South Korea, and select international markets.