Nuclear Energy Now tracks the latest nuclear energy developments across technology, diplomacy, industry trends, and geopolitics.
Underground SMR Project Advances in Three States
California-based nuclear startup Deep Fission has identified three potential sites—in Texas, Utah, and Kansas—for its underground small modular reactor (SMRs), with all three signing Letters of Intent to develop the projects jointly. The company is also one of the projects selected for the US Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program. Deep Fission’s initial design features 15 megawatt electric (MWe) pressurized water reactors housed approximately a mile underground in 30-inch boreholes, with scalability up to 1.5 gigawatts electric (GWe). By housing the reactors underground, the company says the surrounding geology provides natural shielding and passive containment while minimizing surface footprint. Deep Fission also forecasts cost advantages of between 70 and 80 percent when compared to conventional nuclear reactors.
The United States and Turkey Sign a Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
Turkey and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation at the White House, marking an important step in their energy partnership. The agreement focuses on boosting investment, collaboration in civilian nuclear energy technology, and energy security, supporting Turkey’s efforts to diversify its energy mix. The partnership will likely result in the United States becoming involved in new nuclear power plant builds, and Sinop and Thrace have been identified as “the country’s next nuclear frontiers,” with a particular interest in SMRs. This new partnership is also significant as Russia is currently building Turkey’s first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu, positioning Moscow well to expand its influence in Turkey. However, as a NATO member, transitioning its nuclear partnerships toward the West is a strategic decision, aligning its energy security with its defense and foreign policy commitments.
Russia and Iran Deepen Nuclear Cooperation
Earlier this month, Russia pledged to help China expand its nuclear sector and overtake the United States as the largest producer of nuclear energy. Now, Moscow is deepening ties with Tehran. Russia has continued to back Iran’s civil nuclear sector—despite international pressure—and recently, Rosatom and Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization signed an MoU to cooperate on the construction of SMRs. The agreement plans for eight new nuclear power plants and targets 20 GWe of capacity by 2040. The agreement was framed as a partnership to support the peaceful use of nuclear energy, energy security, and technological advancement. However, the West remains wary of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. While US and Israeli strikes in June aimed to cripple Iran’s nuclear facilities, a US intelligence report assessed that the attacks likely delayed Iran’s program by only a few months. Adding to this, Israel announced that it had killed several key Iranian nuclear scientists—a development intended to slow technological progress. Even with these setbacks, Iran retains significant institutional knowledge gained since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) effectively ended. This increased cooperation between Tehran and Moscow not only boosts Iran’s energy ambitions but also raises tensions over proliferation, regional security, and global energy competition.
About the Author: Emily Day
Emily Day is an experienced researcher, writer, and editor with expertise in geopolitics, nuclear energy, and global security. She is an Associate Editor of Energy World and Techland at The National Interest and a Senior Research Associate at Longview Global Advisors, where she provides insights on global political and economic trends with a specialization in utilities, risk, sustainability, and technology. She was previously a Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow at the Partnership for Global Security.
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