Nuclear reactors are getting smaller, but they still need fuel to run. That is where Centrus Energy and Radiant come in.

Centrus Energy and Radiant signed a multi-year deal to supply high-assay, low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, to advanced microreactors. Centrus will start delivering the fuel before the end of the decade to power Radiant’s portable Kaleidos microreactors.

“The contract with Radiant marks another important step in building the domestic fuel supply chain needed to support the next generation of nuclear energy,” said Amir Vexler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centrus. “By expanding our work to include innovative microreactor developers like Radiant, we are strengthening the U.S.-based fuel supply network. This will help ensure that emerging nuclear technologies have access to the reliable fuel they need to reach commercialization and meet growing demand for clean, secure, and dependable energy.”

A Domestic Supply of Uranium for New Reactors

Developing new and advanced reactors requires a steady fuel supply. Radiant is paying Centrus in advance to support its commercial enrichment program in the U.S.

Because Centrus uses American technology and supply chains, its uranium is considered “unobligated,” meaning it can be used for defense projects alongside commercial ones. Right now, Centrus’ AC100 centrifuge design is the only ready-to-use U.S. technology that can deliver this type of fuel.

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Power to Remote Areas

A conceptual design of Radiant’s Kaleidos microreactors; Photo: Radiant

Radiant is designing its Kaleidos reactors to plug in and bring power to remote places, data centers, and military sites. However, ensuring the fuel is ready at the same time is key.

“You can’t deploy nuclear reactors without fuel, so we have approached our fuel supply the same way we have approached the reactor: build it in parallel, and don’t depend on any single path,” said Dr. Rita Baranwal, Chief Nuclear Officer of Radiant. “This agreement gives Kaleidos a continued source of HALEU for commercial and national security applications and removes one of the biggest constraints facing advanced nuclear deployment. We’re securing the fuel supply chain alongside the reactor so that when Kaleidos is ready to deploy at scale, the infrastructure behind it is ready too.”