Click here for an archived PDF of the Q4 2025 email newsletter.
A note from our Chair
Hello TRTR Community!
As we draw to a close on 2025, I’m pleased to share with you a summary ofthe major strides
our community has made over the past year in advancing test reactors, research
infrastructure, and reactor-development programs worldwide. It has been a remarkably
active year — one that positions us for even greater progress in the months ahead.
Policy and Programmatic Advances:
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) — New Test-Reactor Pilot Program: In June 2025, DOE formally announced a new Pilot Program to accelerate the testing of advanced nuclear reactor designs under DOE authority — allowing qualified companies to build and operate test reactors outside oftraditional National Lab sites.
- Expansion of Domestic Fuel and Materials Infrastructure: Also in 2025, DOE launched a
complementary pilot to build advanced nuclear fuel production lines — intended to reduce
U.S. dependence on foreign sources of enriched uranium and enable the fuel supply for
advanced reactors.
International Milestones in Test and Advances Reactors:
- In China, the ongoing work on molten salt reactor technology continues apace: the project
known as TMSR‐LF1 recently achieved a major milestone, reportedly completing the first
thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in its molten-salt core (Nov 2025), marking progress
in thorium-fuel research. - In Europe, lead-cooled fast-reactor development also made headway: in Sweden, a
prototype test facility for the 55 MW lead-cooled design SEALER‐55 is under construction
— positioning the project to deliver a demonstration reactor as early as 2029. - Globally, the continued construction of new power reactors (per data from the World
Nuclear Association) underscores rising demand for nuclear infrastructure; this growth is
paralleled by increased interest in research reactors as training, fuel-testing, and R&D
platforms.
Looking ahead, 2026 brings many opportunities for the community as we continue to grow
and adapt to the changing landscape. Some of these include:
- Assisting DOE with their reviews in support of the Pilot Program
Encouraging collaborations around fuel development, materials testing, and advanced
reactor designs - Preparing for expanded demand for trained reactor operators, technical personnel, and
regulatory oversight— a need that should drive investments in training, standardization,
and safety culture - Engaging internationally — learning from and contributing to global projects (in China,
Europe, Brazil and elsewhere), sharing data, and aligning research priorities for
maximum scientific and societal benefit
Thank you all for all of your support during 2025. This continues to be a time of growth for the
community and there are many changes at the NRC. We are still awaiting what the
restructure at the NRC will bring to the community. I encourage you to please continue to
participate in the NRC’s quarterly calls and feel free to reach out to me anytime.
Cameron Goodwin Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center
