The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted TerraPower approval to begin construction of its first nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. This marks the first construction approval in nearly a decade, allowing the Bill Gates-backed company to start work on its innovative Natrium reactor design. The plant won't be completed until 2030 at the earliest.

TerraPower's design features several novel elements, including liquid sodium cooling and fast-neutron technology. The sodium-cooled system eliminates the high-pressure challenges of water-cooled reactors while enabling the plant to consume radioactive waste isotopes. The relatively small 245-megawatt reactor incorporates salt-based energy storage that can temporarily boost output to 500 megawatts, allowing it to compete with renewable energy sources.

While construction approval is a critical milestone, TerraPower still needs an operating license before generating power. The company developed the Natrium design jointly with GE Hitachi, aiming to create a more flexible and efficient nuclear plant that can complement intermittent renewable energy on the grid.