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Project PlanningAdvanced Non-LWR

Texas A&M-RELLIS Energy Proving Ground

📍 TX
Capacity
—
Expected Operation
—
Reactor Type
Multiple: Kairos KP-FHR, Natura MSR-100, Terrestrial IMSR, Aalo Pod
Regulatory Status
NRC pre-application for an Early Site Permit (Part 52); ESP application not yet submitted as of NRC page update 2026-09-15 (earlier targets Q4 2025, then May 2026, passed); four developers selected 2025-02

Details

Primary Use
Demonstration / research

Research detail · verified 2026-10-10

Stage
Early stage (site agreement or plan only)
Commercial power
No (test, research, military or demonstration)
NRC docket
Pre-application project 99902136
Stated target operation
Initial phases early-to-mid 2030s (Texas A&M/NRC pre-application materials); Natura stated MSR-100 deployment by 2029 at RELLIS
Key dates
2024-11-07 Texas A&M letter of intent to NRC for ESP; 2025-02-04 four developers selected; 2026-06-23 Terrestrial Energy 77-acre ground lease signed (see separate row)
Not verified / conflicts
ESP submission target slipped (NRC page says Q4 2025; search results cite May 2026); no submission found as of 2026-10-10. 'Early-to-mid 2030s' attribution came from search summary of the NOI/NRC page, not read verbatim. Kairos, Natura and Aalo agreements are agreements to explore siting; only Terrestrial has a signed ground lease. Last Energy PWR-5 pilot at RELLIS is a DOE Reactor Pilot Program project (excluded). Merge note: project_type set to advanced reactor; the ESP is meant to host several developers (Kairos, Natura, Terrestrial, Aalo) with mixed designs.
Sources
  1. https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/advanced/who-were-working-with/pre-application-activities/texas-am-system
  2. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2431/ML24312A358.pdf
  3. https://news.tamus.edu/texas-am-system-goes-nuclear/
  4. https://www.powermag.com/texas-am-launches-smr-energy-proving-ground-with-selection-of-four-nuclear-firms/
  5. https://kairospower.com/external_updates/kairos-power-to-explore-commercial-plant-siting-opportunity-at-texas-am-rellis-campus/
  6. https://aalo.com/post/aalo-partners-with-texas-a-m-university-to-contribute-to-1-gw-for-data-centers
  7. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natura-resources-announces-two-advanced-nuclear-deployments-in-texas-302378482.html
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Texas
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