Nano Nuclear Energy

Nano Nuclear Energy is an American company focused on the development of nuclear microreactor technologies and related nuclear services, headquartered in New York City and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company is an official member of the United States Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) and the Nuclear Institute based in the United Kingdom. It was selected as a founding member of the HALEU (High Assay Low Enriched Uranium) consortium of the United States Department of Energy.

History

Jay Jiang Yu Nano Nuclear Energy was founded in 2021 by Jay Jiang Yu and initially headquartered in New York City, and later established a second headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, close to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

In 2022, the company appointed Winston Chow, former senior advisor to the United States Department of Energy for East Asia, as Chief Policy Officer; Ian Farnan, President of the Nuclear Energy Centre at the University of Cambridge, as head of nuclear fuel cycle, radiation and materials; and Eugene Shwageraus, professor of nuclear energy systems engineering at the University of Cambridge, as principal reactor engineering member. Lassina Zerbo, Chairman of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board, was appointed Chairman of the Executive Advisory Board for Africa, and Jeffrey L. Binder was appointed Head of Nuclear Laboratory and Technologies.

The company is led by founder Jay Jiang Yu and Chief Executive Officer James Walker, who also serves as Head of Reactor Development.

In 2023, Nano Nuclear Energy became an official member of the USNIC and the Nuclear Institute, participating in industry events and conferences. The company raised approximately US$4.14 million in funding to support market expansion.

Nano Nuclear Energy also participated in the New Hampshire Commission investigating the deployment of next-generation nuclear reactor technology in the state.

The company was selected as a founding member of the HALEU Fuel Consortium of the United States Department of Energy for research, development, demonstration, and commercial use of high-assay low-enriched uranium fuels.

Micro-reactors

In 2023, Nano Nuclear Energy signed a strategic partnership project agreement with the Idaho National Laboratory for expert review and nuclear fuel fabrication capabilities for its micro-reactor designs. The company is developing two proprietary micro-reactors: a solid-core battery reactor named ZEUS and a low-pressure coolant reactor named ODIN. These systems incorporate passive safety features such as heat dissipation through conduction and natural convection, without complex mechanical systems.

See also

  • Generation IV reactor
  • High-assay low-enriched uranium
  • Idaho National Laboratory
  • Lists of engineering software
  • List of companies in the nuclear sector
  • List of small modular reactor designs
  • Microreactor
  • Passive nuclear safety
  • Small modular reactor