Westinghouse Electric creates LEU+, a middle-ground to more efficient and safer nuclear fuel.

Marking a pivotal milestone that aligns with years of United States government planning to secure domestic nuclear energy resources, Westinghouse Electric Company announced that it has produced its first batch of Low Enriched Uranium Plus (LEU+) fuel pellets, a development that not only marks a significant technological achievement but also strengthens America's push to reduce reliance on foreign uranium, reinforcing national security and ensuring a stable supply for the nation's reactors.

With a legacy of over 130 years of innovation, Westinghouse has played a central role in shaping the energy landscape, from pioneering alternating current technology to building the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor.

Today, nearly half of the world's nuclear reactors rely on Westinghouse technology. Building on this foundation, Westinghouse continues to advance nuclear energy with innovations like the AP1000 nuclear plant and the eVinci microreactor, furthering its commitment to delivering safe, clean, and reliable energy.

Operating major facilities in the U.S., Sweden, and the United Kingdom, Westinghouse Electric Company now stands as a leading global supplier of nuclear fuel and reactor technology.

Westinghouse Electric Company

Aerial view of Westinghouse's Springfield facility.

As part of these ongoing efforts, the company recently announced it had produced its first batch of LEU+ fuel pellets from its Springfield facility in the U.K.

This advancement is categorized as a Westinghouse ADOPT (Advanced Doped Pellet Technology) fuel, which are designed to improve fuel cycle economics and enhance the tolerance of conventional fuel pellets.

"The first production of LEU+ ADOPT fuel is a key step for achieving longer fuel cycles and reducing operational costs in the nuclear fuel industry," said Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel President Tarik Choho. "This significant milestone, which is part of our Encore Accident Tolerant Fuel program, will help us provide safer, more economical, reliable, clean energy to our customers across the world."

What makes ADOPT pellets different from conventional nuclear fuel is that they incorporate additives that increase the density and thermal conductivity of the fuel, allowing for higher burnup rates and improved safety margins.

Unlike standard low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel, which typically contains up to 5% uranium-235, LEU+ pellets can be enriched up to 8%, allowing for longer reactor cycles and reducing the frequency of refueling outages.

While LEU+ is the newest addition to Westinghouse's nuclear fuel offerings, the company's ADOPT pellets have been used in reactors across Europe for over a decade, demonstrating their reliability and effectiveness in enhancing reactor operations.

Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Accident Tolerant Fuel Program, these pellets were made from a higher enriched uranium oxide powder prepared by Idaho National Laboratory – marking the first time DOE material was used to support the increased enrichment of a commercial nuclear fuel above 5%.

As a result, this LEU+ fuel could be considered a form of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which falls within the 5% to 20% enrichment range.

Previously, HALEU was primarily sourced from Russia. However, with the recent ban on Russian uranium imports, the U.S. government has long prepared to break away from this dependence and seeks to establish domestic capabilities to produce this higher form of enriched fuel.

With LEU+ production now underway in the U.K., the U.S. is poised to test this advanced fuel in real-world conditions, signaling a critical phase in ensuring that this new enriched fuel can meet the rigorous demands of commercial nuclear reactors.

The first batch of these LEU+ fuel pellets is planned for testing at the Vogtle Unit 2 reactor in Georgia, where their performance in a commercial setting will be closely monitored. This crucial testing phase will determine the advanced fuel's real-world effectiveness, providing essential data that could pave the way for its broader adoption across the nation's nuclear energy portfolio.