TRISO-X Secures First-Ever NRC Category II License for Commercial Advanced Nuclear Fuel Fabrication

The license allows the company to fabricate commercial tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) at its facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued its first approval of a commercial Category II nuclear fuel fabrication facility, granting a 40-year license to TRISO-X, a subsidiary of X-energy, to fabricate TRISO fuel using HALEU at its facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This milestone supports the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor designs that will use the specialized fuel.

Why it matters

The approval of TRISO-X's commercial-scale fuel fabrication facility is a significant step in establishing a domestic supply of advanced nuclear fuel in the United States, which is crucial for the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies that can help meet the country's energy and national security priorities.

The details

The NRC license allows TRISO-X to receive, acquire, possess, and transfer special nuclear material, including uranium enriched to less than 20% U-235, for fuel fabrication at its TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility (TF3) in Oak Ridge. The company plans to start operations at the first production unit, TX-1, in 2027, with a capacity of 5 metric tons of uranium or 700,000 TRISO pebbles per year, enough to support up to 11 Xe-100 reactors. A second unit, TX-2, is in the design phase to significantly scale up TRISO fuel production capacity.

  • The NRC issued the 40-year license on February 13, 2026.
  • Vertical construction at the first fuel facility, TX-1, began in November 2025.
  • TX-1 is expected to be completed by mid-2026, and operations are projected to start in 2027.

The players

TRISO-X

A wholly owned subsidiary of X-energy that will operate the commercial TRISO fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

X-energy

The company developing the commercial fuel facility to support the deployment of its Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) design, which will use TRISO fuel.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

The U.S. government agency that issued the first-ever commercial Category II nuclear fuel fabrication license to TRISO-X.

Joel Duling

The president of TRISO-X.

Ho K. Nieh

The chairman of the NRC.

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What they’re saying

“Commercial-scale production of this fuel is key to enabling the deployment of advanced reactor designs. This license represents an important milestone that supports the Department of Energy's program to accelerate deployment of nuclear technologies and deliver more power to the grid.”

— Ho K. Nieh, NRC Chairman

“Regulatory approval brings us one step closer to a resilient, American fuel supply for next-generation nuclear technology, advancing our energy security by closing a longstanding gap in the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle. Achieving this first-of-its-kind license reflects the technical leadership and sustained diligence of the TRISO-X team, as well as a focused process with the NRC to complete the review three months ahead of schedule. We look forward to continuing our work to bring commercial-scale TRISO production to East Tennessee.”

— Joel Duling, President of TRISO-X

What’s next

Before TRISO-X receives special nuclear material and officially begins operations at TX-1, the NRC will conduct a final inspection to verify that the equipment is ready, the required safety systems are installed and functional, and the operating personnel are trained and qualified.

The takeaway

The NRC's approval of TRISO-X's commercial TRISO fuel fabrication facility is a significant milestone that supports the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor designs in the United States, helping to establish a domestic supply of this specialized fuel and bolster the country's energy security and nuclear technology leadership.