In a groundbreaking development for U.S. nuclear energy, X-energy is pioneering a new era of domestic nuclear fuel production at Oak Ridge National Laboratory [1]. The company is manufacturing advanced TRISO fuel, described as the 'most robust nuclear fuel on Earth', marking the first nuclear fuel fabrication facility in over 50 years.

Workers at the facility are creating what appear to be gray billiard balls packed with thousands of tiny black spheres, each containing a precisely enriched uranium speck that exceeds current power plant standards [1]. This innovative approach represents a strategic effort to reduce foreign fuel dependencies and enhance domestic energy capabilities.

President Trump's executive orders have set an ambitious goal of quadrupling domestic nuclear power production within the next 25 years, with a new wave of advanced nuclear reactors potentially becoming operational around 2030 [1]. X-energy has already broken ground on a massive $2 billion campus dedicated to fuel production, signaling significant private and government investment in nuclear technology.

The Oak Ridge facility, though currently operating in a compact 3,000 square foot space, is preparing for large-scale production. Experts emphasize that just as cars require fuel, these advanced nuclear plants will depend critically on domestic fuel manufacturing capabilities [1].