Four European organisations join forces to develop innovative nuclear reactor

A new European consortium launches the design of a small lead-cooled modular reactor, targeting global commercialisation by 2039, with a demonstration scheduled as early as 2035.

Share:

Four European institutions in the nuclear sector have officially created the Eagles Consortium to develop and commercialise the EAGLES-300, a fourth-generation lead-cooled modular nuclear reactor. The partnership agreement was signed on the sidelines of the European Energy Council, gathering Belgian, Italian, and Romanian government officials.

A strategic European partnership

The project involves Belgium’s Nuclear Energy Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Italian firm Ansaldo Nucleare, and Romania’s nuclear research organisation RATEN. The agreement was finalised in the presence of several high-level political representatives, including Mathieu Bihet, Belgian Minister of Energy, and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security.

The EAGLES-300 reactor falls within the European Industrial Alliance initiative on Small Modular Reactors (SMR), launched by the European Commission. Selected the previous year under the designation EU-SMR-LFR, it is one of two projects chosen by the Alliance for accelerated development by 2030.

A reactor with advanced features

With an estimated power output of approximately 350 megawatts electric (MWe), this reactor will offer features adapted to the current needs of electricity grids, with increased flexibility for industrial heat supply and hydrogen production. Its modular design aims to lower initial investment costs, shorten construction periods, and facilitate more flexible deployment.

The EAGLES-300 will utilise Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX), incorporating recycled materials. This approach should enhance fuel management efficiency, notably reducing radioactive waste generation.

Two test sites in Belgium and Romania

The consortium plans two distinct facilities for technical testing: the LEANDREA site in Mol, Belgium, primarily dedicated to fuel and material evaluations, with an operational target set for 2035. Meanwhile, the ALFRED (Advanced Lead Fast Reactor European Demonstrator) facility in Pitești, Romania, will be upgraded to prepare for future global commercial operations planned for 2039.

ENEA Director General Giorgio Graditi stated: “The consortium will greatly benefit from its members’ complementary expertise in lead cooling technology.” According to Graditi, this synergy will reinforce the consortium’s European position as a benchmark for lead-cooled reactor technology.

Cristian Bușoi, Romanian Secretary of State for Energy, highlighted the integration of this project within Europe’s energy strategy, supported by European initiatives such as the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) and the European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII), focused on developing fourth-generation nuclear reactors.

  • Populaires ​
Eos Energy secures additional $22.7mn to strengthen US production capacity
Glencore in talks with London over future of insolvent Lindsey oil refinery
United States selects Westinghouse and Radiant to test their nuclear microreactors
The Economic Impact of Solar Energy in Europe Amid Surplus Production
Petro-Victory Energy successfully completes drilling of AND-5 well in the Andorinha field, Brazil
Lithuanian nuclear operator SE Ignalina signs agreement with Newcleo
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egypt: Supplementary agreements signed for the El Dabaa nuclear power plant
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra obtains approval to extend Perry nuclear plant operations
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF injects €1.3 billion into Sizewell C, its second British EPR
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
France: Cigéo nuclear waste underground storage project makes significant progress
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF launches its nuclear Technocentre in Fessenheim, estimated investment of €450 million
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear signs strategic agreement with UrAmerica on Argentine uranium
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
SHINE and Standard Nuclear form strategic partnership on recycled fuel
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.
Floating nuclear power plants evaluated to supply Mediterranean regions
The American Bureau of Shipping and two nuclear sector companies are studying the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of island and coastal regions in the Mediterranean, notably via electricity and desalination.
Lithuania explores nuclear option with small modular reactors
Lithuania establishes a working group tasked with assessing the feasibility of modular nuclear reactors to meet electricity demand estimated at 74 TWh by 2050.
Framatome wins two major contracts to extend Belgian nuclear operations
Framatome has secured two significant contracts from Electrabel covering modernisation and technical support for the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors, as part of their extension agreed upon between Engie and the Belgian government.
Egypt accelerates El-Dabaa national grid connection for 2026
Cairo is stepping up connection works for the planned 4,800 MW El-Dabaa nuclear plant, developed with Rosatom, to feed the grid from 2026 with output equal to about seven % of national electricity.
EDF postpones restart of Flamanville EPR to August 13
EDF extends Flamanville EPR's shutdown to August 13 to conduct technical checks on three valves of the reactor's primary circuit, initially scheduled to resume production this week.
GE Vernova and Fortum launch major nuclear project in Scandinavia
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Fortum announce partnership aimed at preparing for the potential deployment of small modular reactors in Finland and Sweden, with commissioning scheduled for the 2030s.
Energy Fuels extracts 638,700 pounds of uranium at Pinyon Plain mine
Energy Fuels Inc. announced record production of 638,700 pounds of uranium during the second quarter of 2025 at its Pinyon Plain mine in Arizona, significantly surpassing initial site performance forecasts.
Argentina and Peru strengthen cooperation in civil nuclear sector
Argentina and Peru have signed an agreement expanding their scientific and technological cooperation in the civil nuclear field, including joint research projects and specialised training programmes for future development.
World Bank resumes nuclear financing after decades of absence
After several decades without funding nuclear projects, the World Bank has formed a strategic partnership with the IAEA to provide technical and financial support to countries integrating nuclear energy into their energy strategies.
Seoul approves definitive decommissioning of South Korea’s first nuclear reactor
South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission officially validates the decommissioning of reactor number one at the Kori plant, initiating an unprecedented project for the national industry scheduled to last until 2037.
EnCore Energy raises uranium output and hails Texas nuclear reforms
Uranium producer enCore Energy surpasses three thousand pounds per day at its Alta Mesa ISR complex and sees three new Texas laws as a strong signal for faster nuclear production permits.
IAEA Confirms Concerns About Iranian Enriched Uranium Stockpile
The International Atomic Energy Agency expresses concerns over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles following the abrupt suspension of inspections at key sites disrupted by recent attacks whose consequences remain uncertain.

LEGAL

FOSSILS

POLICY

RENEWABLE

PLUS

© XMARKET PUBLISHING