![[TerraPower.png|300]] Company website: https://www.terrapower.com/ ### Introduction TerraPower LLC is a U.S.-based nuclear innovation company developing advanced nuclear reactors and related technologies to address global energy, climate, and health challenges. Founded in 2008 by Bill Gates, Nathan Myhrvold, John Gilleland, and a group of visionaries from Intellectual Ventures, the company was established to commercialize innovative nuclear designs that improve safety, reduce waste, and enhance economic viability. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, TerraPower's mission is to solve the world’s toughest problems in energy, climate, and human health through innovative nuclear technology, focusing on carbon-free power generation, industrial decarbonization, and medical isotope production for cancer treatments. Key focus areas include designing Generation IV reactors like sodium-cooled fast reactors and molten salt systems for scalable, flexible energy production; advancing fuel cycles using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU); and producing radioisotopes such as actinium-225. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), TerraPower is constructing its first Natrium demonstration plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, near a retiring coal facility, to demonstrate integration with renewables and support high-demand sectors like data centers amid rising AI energy needs. ### Key Products and Technology - **Natrium™ Reactor and Plant**: A sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) system with integrated molten salt energy storage; features a 345 MWe reactor core using metallic HALEU fuel for efficient breeding and waste reduction, passive safety through natural convection cooling, and no need for high-pressure systems; scalable output up to 500 MWe peak for over 5 hours via storage; applications include baseload grid power, load-following with renewables, data center energy, hydrogen production, and replacing coal plants. - **Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR)**: An advanced reactor using liquid chloride salt as both fuel and coolant; operates at high temperatures (over 600°C) for superior thermal efficiency, enables closed fuel cycles by burning nuclear waste and actinides, reduces long-lived waste; inherently safe with low-pressure design and freeze-plug meltdown prevention; targeted for industrial heat, desalination, and future commercial power generation. - **Traveling Wave Reactor (TWR) Concept**: Early design evolved into Natrium; utilizes depleted uranium for sustained fission wave, minimizing refueling needs over decades; focuses on fuel efficiency and proliferation resistance. - **Medical Isotopes (e.g., Actinium-225)**: Produced via accelerator or reactor methods; high-purity alpha-emitting isotopes for targeted cancer therapies; features precise delivery to tumors while sparing healthy tissue; applications in oncology treatments, with scalable production to meet global demand. - **Advanced Fuel and Materials**: HALEU-based fuels for enhanced burnup and safety; corrosion-resistant materials for sodium and salt environments; digital twins and AI for predictive maintenance and optimization. ### Team and Leadership - **Bill Gates, Founder and Chairman**: Visionary leader driving the company's innovation; co-founder of Microsoft with a focus on global health and energy; advocates for nuclear as a climate solution. [@BillGates](https://x.com/BillGates) - **Chris Levesque, President and CEO**: Oversees operations and commercialization; extensive nuclear industry experience, including leadership at AREVA and roles in U.S. Navy nuclear programs; emphasizes regulatory progress and project execution. - **Jeff Navin, Chief Development Officer**: Manages business development and partnerships; former Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy, with expertise in policy and international nuclear collaboration. - **Other Key Executives**: Include Tara Neider (Chief Operating Officer), focused on engineering and supply chain; Scott Claunch (Chief Financial Officer), handling funding and investments; and technical leaders like John Gilleland (Co-Founder and Senior Advisor), a pioneer in reactor design from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. ### Recent News and Developments (2025) | Date | Event | Details | |------|--------|---------| | July 7, 2025 | NRC Accelerates Kemmerer Permit Review | The NRC announced an expedited schedule to complete review of TerraPower's Natrium construction permit by end of 2025, eight months ahead of plan, supporting on-time deployment. | | July 2, 2025 | NRC Sets Aggressive Timeline for Natrium Permit | Plans to finalize review by December 2025 for the Kemmerer Unit 1 project, advancing the ARDP-supported demonstration. | | June 20, 2025 | Closes $650 Million Funding Round | Secured investment to support Natrium commercialization, including new investor NVentures (NVIDIA's VC arm) and Bill Gates. | | June 18, 2025 | Announces $650 Million Fundraise | Funding to accelerate first Natrium plant and future deployments in the U.S. and abroad. | | May 21, 2025 | Expands Executive Leadership Team | Added new roles to strengthen operations, development, and commercialization efforts. | | May 12, 2025 | Receives EA/FONSI for Energy Island Construction | NRC issued environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact, allowing early non-nuclear construction at Kemmerer site. | | March 21, 2025 | On Track for Natrium Deployment | CEO confirms permitting ahead of schedule, targeting operational status by 2030 near Wyoming coal plant. | | March 13, 2025 | Forms Strategic Alliance with KBR | Long-term collaboration for global Natrium deployment, leveraging KBR's engineering expertise. | | March 12, 2025 | Partners with HD Hyundai | Agreement to expand manufacturing supply chain for Natrium components. | | March 11, 2025 | Announces Collaboration with HD Hyundai | Aims to scale global production capacity for rapid Natrium rollout. | | March 6, 2025 | Signs Union Labor Agreement for Wyoming Plant | Partnership with Bechtel for 345 MW Natrium construction under union pact. | | February 12, 2025 | Collaborates with nVision Energy | Agreement to develop customized Natrium solutions for project deployment. | | January 21, 2025 | Strategic Partnership with Sabey Data Centers | MOU to explore Natrium plants in Rocky Mountains and Texas for data center power needs. | ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)**: Major funding and technical support through ARDP, including $2 billion for Natrium demonstration; collaboration on fuel facilities and R&D at national labs like Argonne for sodium fast reactor and molten salt tech. - **HD Hyundai**: Strategic agreement signed March 2025 to scale global manufacturing supply chain for Natrium components, combining expertise for rapid deployment. - **KBR**: Long-term alliance announced March 2025 for commercialization and worldwide deployment of Natrium plants, focusing on engineering and project management. - **nVision Energy**: Collaboration from February 2025 on Natrium project development, offering tailored solutions for energy markets. - **Sabey Data Centers**: MOU in January 2025 to explore Natrium deployments in Rocky Mountains and Texas to meet growing data center power demands. - **GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy**: Partnership for Natrium fuel facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, to produce HALEU-based fuel. - **Bechtel**: Construction partner for Kemmerer Natrium plant, with union labor agreement signed March 2025. - **Cardinal Health and Isotek**: Collaboration on actinium-225 production and distribution for medical isotopes, including historic DOE shipments. - **SK Group and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP)**: Strategic agreement (ongoing from 2023) for clean energy initiatives and potential Natrium adaptations. - **Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)**: Expanded MOU for joint sodium fast reactor design and development. - **[[Oklo]] and Hexium**: Recent collaboration announced June 2025 to advance domestic HALEU enrichment via AVLIS technology. ### Closing Note With a recent $650 million fundraise in June 2025 bringing total private investment to over $1.5 billion alongside $2 billion in DOE support, TerraPower is in the demonstration and pre-commercialization stage, with a strong outlook for deploying its first Natrium reactor by 2030 to meet escalating clean energy demands. *Report generated August 04, 2025*