Bill Gates-backed TerraPower eyes Utah for 345 MW nuclear reactor

Bill Gates-backed TerraPower has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Utah Office of Energy Development and land developer Flagship Companies to identify potential sites in Utah for building a 345 MW Natrium nuclear reactor and energy storage plant. The collaboration aims to support Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox’s Operation Gigawatt initiative, which seeks to develop a diverse and reliable energy ecosystem for Utah and the western United States. The site selection process, expected to yield a preliminary list by the end of 2025, will consider factors such as community support, site characteristics, licensing feasibility, and infrastructure access. TerraPower’s Natrium reactor is a sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system, capable of boosting its output from 345 MW to 500 MW depending on demand. This advanced design uses significantly less water than traditional light water reactors and small modular reactors, making it suitable for water-constrained regions like the Mountain West. TerraPower is currently building the first Nat