TerraPower has signed strategic agreements with HD Hyundai and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) to speed up the commercial rollout of Natrium sodium‑cooled fast reactor plants, including their integrated energy storage systems.
The move is framed as a key step towards serial production and fleet‑scale deployment of the technology.
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Under a supply framework agreement, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) will serve as a preferred manufacturer for the Natrium Reactor Enclosure System components, helping to secure a scalable, repeatable supply chain for multiple units. HHI was selected following an assessment of its large‑scale fabrication and precision manufacturing capability, particularly in energy sector equipment.
In a second agreement, TerraPower, HD Hyundai and HDEC outlined a joint road map to co‑deliver the commercial structure, construction, design, financing, manufacturing and supply chain for several Natrium plants. The goal is to create a standardised project model that can accelerate deployment and lower execution risk while maintaining competitive economics.
TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said the partnerships merge US technological innovation with Korean industrial and construction expertise, positioning Natrium to help meet rising power demand with low‑carbon, resilient baseload output.
Kwang‑shik Won of HHI and Young Choi of HDEC described the collaboration as a springboard for their entry into the advanced nuclear market and a way to cement Korea’s role in the next generation of energy infrastructure.
The Natrium technology centres on a 345MW sodium‑cooled fast reactor paired with a molten salt energy storage system that can temporarily boost output to 500MW during peak demand while keeping baseload operations stable.
The first full‑scale Natrium plant is being developed in the US under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, with target operation around 2030, and TerraPower has already arranged a deal with Meta for up to eight Natrium units by 2035.
