🛠️ U.S. Starts Fueling Its Advanced Nuclear Future

The U.S. Department of Energy just made its first allocations of HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium) to five advanced reactor developers—bringing the next wave of American nuclear tech one step closer to launch.

The chosen five—TRISO-X, Kairos Power, Radiant Industries, Westinghouse, and TerraPower—were selected from 15 applicants, with three needing fuel as early as this year.

HALEU, enriched up to 20% U-235, unlocks smaller reactor designs, longer refueling cycles, and more efficient operation—making it the go-to fuel for next-gen reactors.

The fuel comes via the HALEU Availability Program, created in 2020 to kickstart a domestic fuel supply chain for advanced nuclear.

This allocation process lets developers request fuel directly from U.S. government stockpiles (including NNSA material), and some could get their HALEU as soon as this fall.

The program is ongoing, and more companies are expected to get access in future rounds.

Nuclear innovation is heating up—and now, so is the fuel.

⚛️Cool Links

⛏️Nuclear Boom Sparks Urgent Call for Investment in New Uranium Mines
“The world must immediately make substantial investments in mining uranium to meet surging demand for nuclear energy, according to the latest industry stock-take that highlights the renaissance in the power source.”

⚡️Inside America’s next nuclear power revolution — as energy makes a comeback
Nuclear energy hasn’t just been making a comeback in recent months. According to many experts we’re heading for a “long-awaited American nuclear renaissance.” The US has mostly ignored or neglected nuclear projects since the end of the Cold War. But just last year, 25 states passed legislation to support advanced nuclear energy, including New York. Well over 200 bills have already been introduced this year that support or subsidize nuclear energy.

🔬Testing Starts on First Higher Enriched Fuel in U.S. Commercial Reactor
Southern Nuclear has loaded a new higher enriched nuclear fuel into a commercial reactor for irradiation testing. This is the first time fuel enriched above 5 percent will be irradiated in a U.S. commercial reactor. The higher enrichment levels allow the fuel to last longer and operate at increased power levels — potentially leading to additional reliable power production at nuclear power plants across the country.

🗻Norwegian Government Moves Ahead With Potential Commercial Nuclear Project
The Norwegian government announced April 8 that it has instructed a group of agencies to develop a plan for an environmental impact assessment program for a proposed commercial nuclear power project.

🚀UK Goes Full Nuclear

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to go all-in on nuclear—with plans to greenlight the long-awaited Sizewell C project and unveil winners for the country’s first fleet of SMRs.

The £20 billion Sizewell C plant is a massive 3.2 GW power station expected to provide electricity for 6 million homes and supply up to 7% of the UK’s grid by 2035.

It’s getting formal investment approval before June’s spending review. The government has already backed it with £6 billion, and more private capital is being courted.

But that’s just the start. Starmer also plans to announce two winners from the UK’s SMR competition—Rolls-Royce and GE Hitachi are reportedly leading the pack.

New planning rules will make it easier to place these SMRs almost anywhere outside built-up areas—not just the eight coastal sites previously designated for nuclear.

To speed things up, the UK government is launching a new nuclear regulatory taskforce and updating its national policy to fast-track approvals.

Britain is betting big on nuclear—and Starmer wants this moment to mark its full-scale comeback.

😂Trump Absolutely Roasts Windmills

President Trump delivered remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee Dinner Tuesday night, check out this clip at 1:10:47 for this gem:

“We’re screwing around with wind. Oh boy. Wind. These people are crazy. They say it’s great for the environment. Yeah, it kills all your birds. You want to see a bird cemetery, walk under a windmill sometime. You’ve got birds all over the place they’re screaming for help they got whacked.”

“Wind is an environmentalists dream, do you know why? Because you’ll never have energy … like if they wanted to watch us on television: ‘Alice! I want to watch the President tonight on television.’ ‘Oh sorry darling, the wind isn’t blowing.’”

🟢 Nuclear Glow, No Batteries Required

Welcome back to Atomic Alternatives—where we shine a light on the surprising ways nuclear tech quietly powers the world around us.

This week’s glowing subject? Self-luminous signs. You know those EXIT signs that stay lit no matter what—even during a blackout? That’s not magic… that’s nuclear.

Most of these signs use tritium, a mildly radioactive isotope of hydrogen. It’s safely sealed inside glass tubes coated with a special phosphorescent material.

As tritium decays, it emits tiny beta particles that excite the coating—creating a steady, battery-free glow.

And no worries—the radiation can’t even penetrate your skin.

Tritium lighting shows up in all kinds of places:

• 🏃Exit signs in tunnels, stairwells, and industrial sites

• ✈️Aircraft instruments (military and civilian)

• 🎯 Tactical gear like weapon sights and compasses

• ⌚️ Wristwatches with 24/7 glow

Why not just use LEDs? Because tritium glows for decades without power, maintenance, or failure. In an emergency, that kind of reliability is priceless.

So the next time you spot a softly glowing sign in a dark hallway—know that nuclear’s got your back. 💡

😂Meme of The Week

Stay charged, stay critical (like a reactor), and keep glowing!😎

Fredrik
[email protected]