X-energy and Southern Nuclear Collaborate on Advanced Reactor Development

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
[email protected]
301.363.2839
@xenergynuclear

SOURCE X-energy

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