Framatome and Tennessee-Standard Nuclear have established a joint venture (JV) to supply commercial quantities of Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles and proprietary advanced reactor products. TRISO fuel comprises uranium particles wrapped in protective ceramic and carbon layers. The JV, Standard Nuclear-Framatome (SNF), will be governed by a board of directors with senior leaders from both companies. It will leverage Framatome’s fuel cycle expertise and infrastructure as well as Standard Nuclear’s technical manufacturing capabilities.
Standard Nuclear emerged from stealth in June following a funding round that raised $42m to develop advanced nuclear fuel. The funding round was led by Decisive Point with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Crucible Capital, Fundomo, and Washington Harbour Partners.
Standard Nuclear is built on assets purchased at auction for $28m following the bankruptcy of the Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) in October 2024. Standard CEO, Kurt Terrani, previously served as Vice President at USNC. Standard Nuclear says it has $100m in non-binding fuel sales for 2027, and that it is working with customers including Nano Nuclear Energy, which acquired other USNC assets in the bankruptcy auction, and Radiant Industries, another Decisive Point portfolio company. In August, the US Department of Energy (DOE) conditionally selected Standard Nuclear as the first US company accepted into the Fuel Line Pilot Program, announced in July.
“Pairing Standard Nuclear’s pioneering technology and full-scale pilot facility with our deep-rooted manufacturing expertise and scalable capacity has ignited a shared momentum,” said Framatome CEO Tony Robinson. “This isn’t just collaboration – it’s a shared vision and capability for the future of our industry to develop advanced reactor fuel on a commercial scale to support advanced reactor developers.”
Through the JV, both companies are committed to bringing the most competitive TRISO fuel particles to market for advanced reactor operators, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro reactors. Once operational, the partnership aims to start by producing 2 tonnes of TRISO fuel annually, representing a significant increase on current capacity to supply the planned fleet of advanced reactors in the US and beyond.
“This strategic partnership with Framatome marks a pivotal moment in establishing a robust, domestic TRISO fuel supply chain,” said Standard CEO Nuclear Kurt Terrani. “By combining Framatome’s proven infrastructure and expertise with Standard Nuclear’s manufacturing capabilities, we’re creating a powerful alliance that will deliver the high-quality TRISO fuel needed to power the next generation of advanced reactors. This joint venture reinforces our commitment to serving as America’s leading advanced nuclear fuel supplier while strengthening the Western world’s energy security through reliable, reactor-agnostic fuel production.”
The 10 CFR Part 70 Licence amendment for Framatome’s nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington, was submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in September 2024 and is planned to be finalised in spring 2026. The JV plans to begin manufacturing in 2027 pending regulatory approvals.
