American regulators authorize construction of small modular nuclear reactor designed for data center power

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved Tennessee Valley Authority's construction of a 300-megawatt BWRX-300 small modular reactor at Clinch River to meet growing electricity demands from artificial intelligence infrastructure. The reactor uses natural circulation technology to manage coolant flow and requires additional licensing before beginning commercial electricity generation. The same reactor design is also being considered for deployment across multiple locations in Britain and potentially Canada.

The regulatory approval marks a significant step in deploying advanced nuclear technology to meet surging energy needs from artificial intelligence operations. The BWRX-300's design emphasizes safety through passive cooling systems that rely on natural physical processes rather than active mechanical pumping, reducing complexity and component count compared to traditional reactor designs. Tennessee Valley Authority envisions potentially installing up to four units at its Clinch River facility, though construction schedules remain fluid.

This development reflects broader international interest in small modular reactors as a climate-friendly power solution. The same GE Vernova Hitachi technology is under consideration in the United Kingdom and Canada, suggesting momentum toward distributed nuclear capacity that could address power demands in multiple countries simultaneously.