Energy Northwest, a premier provider of carbon-free electricity, and X-Energy Reactor Company (“X-energy”), a leading developer of advanced small modular nuclear (pebble bed fission) reactors and fuel have a joint development agreement for up to 12 Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors in central Washington capable of generating up to a total of 960 megawatts of carbon-free electricity. Energy Northwest expects to bring the first Xe-100 module online by 2030.

Energy Northwest owns or operates numerous clean energy generating facilities throughout the Northwest region of the United States, including Columbia Generating Station in Richland, which is the only commercial nuclear energy facility in the region. Under the JDA, the Xe-100 project is expected to be developed at a site controlled by Energy Northwest adjacent to Columbia Generating Station.

The Xe-100 can operate for 60 years without stopping to refuel. There will 200,000 fuel pebbles constantly being fed through the system.

[Pretty cool stuff. It’s also reportedly the design going into a Dow facility in Texas. ~ Beege]