Under the MoU, Terra Innovatum and ATB will work closely to conduct joint feasibility studies and advance component design, safety evaluations, engineering validation, and regulatory and project risk assessments. At commercialisation stage, ATB is expected to lead component manufacturing and commissioning of SOLO and support commercial production and manufacturing at scale.
Terra Innovatum is developing its SOLO micro-modular reactor design, intended to form the basis for a scalable modular energy platform from MWe to GWe-class. A SOLO unit is designed to deliver approximately 1 MWe. The design features a solid heterogeneous composite moderator and is intended to accommodate both traditional zircaloy-clad low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel or, when available, LEU+ and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels. Heat removal is accomplished by helium gas which eliminates the need for water from the reactor coolant system.
The reactor is intended to feature autonomous operation, on-line safeguards-by-design, and a defence-in-depth structure of radiological barriers with the intent to minimise or eliminate emergency planning zone requirements beyond the operational boundary.
Terra Innovatum is currently engaged in pre-application activities with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In July, the company signed an MoU with Rock City Admiral Parkway Development in Illinois, USA, to host the first deployment site for the SOLO reactor. The MoU includes an option to deploy up to 50 on the site in the future. The reactor(s) would supply power to the businesses operating at the park.
“Signing this MoU with ATB is a major inflection point as we move closer to making the first commercial deployment of the SOLO micro-modular reactor a reality,” said Terra Innovatum CEO Alessandro Petruzzi. “Our shared commitment to quality and innovation will enable us to deliver reliable, affordable clean energy where it’s needed most, quickly and at scale.”
Giordano Morichi, Innovatum Partner, Chief Business Development Officer & Investor Relations added: “This collaboration is a testament to Terra Innovatum’s vision and the tangible market momentum behind our advanced nuclear solution. With a leading manufacturing partner in place, already serving several nuclear leaders and colossal industry manufacturers, our path forward is clear, de-risked, and we are confident in deploying SOLO by our target of 2028.”
“We are proud to support the development and manufacturing of Terra Innovatum’s SOLO reactor and to partner on a project that delivers a reliable and safe energy solution,” said ATB Riva Calzoni Managing Director Francesco Squaratti. “Combining ATB’s century-long legacy in complex energy infrastructure with Terra Innovatum’s micro-modular technology will help set new benchmarks in safety, performance, and sustainability for the nuclear industry.”
