GREENBELT, Md., Aug. 22,
2016 /PRNewswire/ -- X Energy, LLC (X-energy) and a subsidiary
of Southern Nuclear Operating Company (Southern Nuclear) have
entered into a memorandum of understanding as a step toward
commercializing and deploying X-energy's High Temperature
Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR): the Xe-100. The Xe-100 reactor series
will produce zero-emission energy around the clock to ensure
reliable electricity that can be adapted to a variety of markets.
This collaboration aims to make available an additional nuclear
solution that supports the global clean energy movement.
"We are thrilled to have Southern Nuclear involved with our
project," said X-energy CEO Dr. Kam
Ghaffarian. "I founded X-energy in 2009 out of a desire to
make a significant and lasting contribution to clean energy
generation in the U.S. and around the world. This relationship
firmly puts us on that path."
In early 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) separately
issued X-energy and the Southern Company-TerraPower partnership
each with five-year Advanced Reactor Concept Cooperative Agreement
awards. The X-energy award focuses on: furtherance of reactor
design; fuel development; and initial licensing activities.
"Our relationship with X-energy builds upon the DOE awards we
each received and puts the industry on a strong path to providing
clean and safe nuclear energy for generations to come," said
Stephen Kuczynski, Chairman,
President and CEO, Southern Nuclear. "We understand fully the time
and manpower it will take to bring the first advanced reactor to
market and feel confident that pursuing this goal together will
best leverage our combined research and commercial operation
experience to do so."
About Southern Nuclear: Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of
Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation's nuclear
energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear
technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern
Company's energy portfolio producing clean, safe and reliable
nuclear energy and also serves as an economic engine powered by
quality jobs and community service. Southern Nuclear operates a
total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W.
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the
licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at
Plant Vogtle, which are among the first nuclear units being
constructed in the United States
in more than 30 years. Southern Nuclear has received numerous
accolades in 2016 for leadership in the advancement of nuclear
energy including the Special Achievement Award by the United States
Nuclear Infrastructure Council and the Presidential Citation by the
American Nuclear Society. Southern Nuclear also received two of the
Nuclear Energy Institute's Top Innovative Practice awards and a
special recognition for achieving excellence in research and
performance. Southern Nuclear's Plant Hatch received the ANS
Operations & Power Division's Utility Achievement
Award. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear;
Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear
www.southerncompany.com/southernnuclear
About X-energy: X-energy is dedicated to developing
transformational nuclear energy solutions that change the world.
The company is designing the Xe-100 series, an advanced nuclear
reactor that will expand nuclear power into new markets in
increments of approximately 50MWe. The Xe-100 series is designed to
be small, simple and affordable. Key attributes of the design are
that it requires less time to construct, with factory-produced
components, and will be "walk-away" safe without operator
intervention during loss of coolant conditions. X-energy is based
in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Twitter: @xenergynuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/xenergynuclear
www.x-energy.com
Contact:
Melanie White Lyons
mlyons@x-energy.com
301.363.2839
@xenergynuclear
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/x-energy-and-southern-nuclear-collaborate-on-advanced-reactor-development-300316303.html
SOURCE X-energy