US firm’s 240 MWe nuclear reactor with first closed-fuel-cycle gets new deal boost

US-based First American Nuclear (FANCO) and AtkinsRéalis have finalized a technical agreement to deploy the EAGL-1 fast-spectrum small modular reactor (SMR) in the United States, targeting initial power delivery by 2033.

The project focuses on the engineering, licensing, and construction of 240-megawatt (MWe) reactors designed to integrate into existing industrial infrastructure.

“Together, we combine highly specialized expertise in advanced nuclear reactors and fuels with expansive operational scale and world‑class engineering resources to bring affordable, reliable nuclear energy to the US as expeditiously as possible,” said Mike Reinboth, CEO of First American Nuclear.

The EAGL-1 utilizes lead-bismuth cooling technology, a design choice that differentiates it from traditional light-water reactors. This type of liquid-metal coolant operates at high temperatures while remaining at atmospheric pressure, which eliminates the need for the thick pressure vessels and complex emergency cooling systems required by conventional pressurized designs.

This reduction in mechanical complexity allows the system to be manufactured and assembled using standard US factory infrastructure and existing supply chains, which is intended to decrease both costs and deployment timelines.

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