California-based start-up Radiant Industries and Amsted Graphite Materials have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening the domestic supply chain for nuclear-grade graphite. As part of the increased collaboration, Radiant has placed a significant purchase order with Amsted Graphite Materials for its PCEA nuclear-grade graphite to support Radiant’s development of their Kaleidos microreactor.
Radiant has been selected as one of three advanced nuclear energy developers to receive funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE) for developing and testing microreactor designs using the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed at Idaho National Laboratory. DOE, through the National Reactor Innovation Centre (NRIC), awarded $3.9m to Radiant, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (UNSC) and Westinghouse to design experiments to test microreactor designs at DOME.
Radiant Industries was set up in 2019 by former SpaceX engineers. Its Kaleidos design is a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) which will use TRISO fuel, a helium coolant, and a graphite moderator. All components will be fitted in a single shipping container to facilitate rapid deployment. It is designed to produce 1.2MWe or 1.9 MWt for heating or water desalination, as a potential replacement for diesel generators. Following testing that is scheduled to begin in 2026, Radiant targets commercial production units in 2028.
The success of Radiant’s Kaleidos Demonstration Project, along with the viability of subsequent commercial projects, will depend in critical part on supply certainty and affordability of nuclear-grade, medium and fine grain graphite required for application in a nuclear environment.
Amsted Graphite Materials, part of the Chicago-based diversified manufacturing conglomerate Amsted Industries, is the largest US-owned synthetic graphite producer. “By joining forces to secure a reliable supply of critical graphite materials, we are investing in the success of our Kaleidos Demonstration Project and laying a solid foundation for the future of clean energy in the United States,” said Tori Shivanandan, Chief Operating Officer of Radiant.
The MOU underscores the commitment of Radiant and Amsted Graphite Materials to reduce reliance on foreign sources of nuclear-grade graphite, enhance US advanced manufacturing capabilities and strengthen the security of US nuclear energy supply chains. Key objectives include collaborative efforts in policy advocacy at federal, state and local levels, strategic discussions with third parties, exploration of public-private partnerships with the US government, and participation in testing and R&D programmes with universities and government laboratories.
“Our collaboration with Radiant is a significant step toward strengthening America’s nuclear energy infrastructure,” said Gavin Noel, Vice President and General Manager of Amsted Graphite Materials. “As the United States moves toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, our partnership underscores the essential role of graphite in ensuring the security and sustainability of innovative technologies.”
Amsted Graphite Materials signed a partnership agreement to establish an integrated domestic supply chain for nuclear-grade graphite with small modular reactor developer X-energy in 2022. X-energy’s Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor is also designed to use synthetic graphite as a moderator.
