Team Lead ERP Engineer

X-energy's helium-cooled reactors: A new era in energy. X-energy is pioneering the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) specifically designed to cater to industries with substantial energy demands, such as concrete, plastics, chemicals, and fibers manufacturing. These sectors require significant amounts of high-temperature heat, which traditional renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines cannot adequately provide. Often, heavy industrial processes rely on fossil fuels to meet their thermal needs, making a transition to cleaner alternatives essential. Conventional nuclear reactors have limitations due to their reliance on water for cooling, which restricts their operating temperatures. X-energy's innovative Xe-100 reactor addresses this challenge by utilizing helium gas as a coolant. This approach not only allows for higher operational temperatures but also reduces the pressure requirements compared to traditional water-cooled systems. The Xe-100 can produce super-heated steam to directly supply heat or generate approximately 80 megawatts (MW) of electricity, marking a significant step forward in nuclear technology. The Xe-100 reactor employs advanced TRISO (tristructural-isotropic) fuel technology, known for its resilience against corrosion and melting. This fuel is continuously added to the reactor, ensuring a consistent energy output while also promoting safety. In case of power loss, the reactor's design inherently mitigates risks by slowing down the nuclear reaction. Beyond conventional industrial usage, the Xe-100 can also benefit sectors like oil recovery - notably in tar sands extraction - by providing the necessary heat without relying on extensive natural gas supplies. Despite the promising technology, challenges remain for X-energy. The only existing commercial helium-cooled reactors are in China, where operational issues have been reported. X-energy asserts that its vertically integrated fuel supply will lead to reliable performance over a projected reactor lifespan of 60 years. However, economic viability is still unproven; costs associated with SMRs can be significantly higher than solar energy. Additionally, while TRISO technology enhances safety and nonproliferation efforts, it may generate more nuclear waste than traditional reactors. Looking ahead, X-energy is making strides in regulatory compliance, having received a fuel fabrication license for its TRISO-X pebbles, with its first production facility slated for completion in 2028. The company is also pursuing projects to deploy the Xe-100 reactor to power a Dow chemical facility in Texas, which could become operational by the early 2030s. Concurrently, X-energy is collaborating with Amazon to develop a cluster of four Xe-100 reactors in Washington, along with a larger fleet in the UK, both targeting electricity generation in the next decade.

GE Vernova vs x-energy. 28th September 2026 Gas turbines have driven much of GE Vernova's recent growth. But the company offers power solutions beyond gas, including a light-water small modular reactor (SMR), the BWRX-300, which its subsidiary manufactures in partnership with Hitachi. Its SMR is a boiling-water nuclear reactor that uses low-enriched uranium (LEU), which is commonly used in traditional reactors. X-Energy is developing its own SMR, the Xe-100, which uses helium gas for cooling instead of water. By using helium gas, the Xe-100 can reach temperatures up to 750 degrees celcius, making it useful for industrial processes such as hydrogen production, chemical manufacturing, and desalination. In addition, the Xe-100 uses tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) pebbles for fuel, which have been called "the most robust nuclear fuel on Earth" by the U.S. Department of Energy. Motley Fool 27th Sept 2026 read more"

X-energy expands Gaithersburg headquarters to 145,000 square feet. Published September 26, 2026 at 1:00PM X-energy has expanded its planned Gaithersburg headquarters at Washingtonian Center, adding approximately 24,000 square feet to its footprint at 9801 Washingtonian Boulevard. According to Maryland Newsletters, X-energy has taken another floor at the building, which has been rebranded as Waterfront at Washingtonian. The expansion brings the clean energy company's total footprint to approximately 145,000 square feet in the nearly 315,000-square-foot building. The additional space comes after X-energy's lease was already among the area's largest office deals of 2025. In July 2025, X-energy announced plans to consolidate its two Rockville offices into a new headquarters at Washingtonian Center. At the time, the company said the headquarters would encompass approximately 125,000 square feet. X-energy, which specializes in nuclear reactor and fuel design technology, said the move would retain 260 full-time jobs in Montgomery County while creating more than 525 new positions over six years. The company's expansion has also helped fill space previously vacated by major tenants at 9801 Washingtonian Boulevard. According to Maryland Newsletters, the departures of Sodexo, which relocated to Pike & Rose, and Covance had left approximately half of the building vacant. Landlord Prime US REIT has since backfilled much of that space. Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation worked with X-energy ahead of the company's decision to remain and expand in Montgomery County, assisting with local incentive programs, property options, workforce resources and connections with local partners. "We're excited that X-energy is doubling down on Montgomery County," County Executive Marc Elrich said when the headquarters project was announced last year. "This expansion is a win for our residents, bringing hundreds of good-paying jobs and strengthening our position as a center for innovation in clean energy and advanced technology." In addition to its growing Gaithersburg headquarters, X-energy announced plans for a 90,000-square-foot facility in Frederick dedicated to non-nuclear testing and prototyping of advanced reactor components. X-energy was founded in Maryland and CEO J. Clay Sell said when the projects were announced that the company was entering "a period of unprecedented growth."