Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

X-energy, Amazon, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation (KHNP) and Doosan Enerbility have announced a strategic partnership meant to accelerate the deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 fourth generation advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) and TRISO-X fuel in the United States to meet growing power demands from data centers and AI.

The agreement outlines collaboration across reactor engineering design, supply chain development, construction planning, investment strategies, long-term operations and global opportunities for joint AI-nuclear deployment. Aligned with the recent $350 billion trade deal between the United States and the Republic of Korea, the companies also aim to mobilize up to $50 billion in public and private investment to support the future of nuclear energy in the U.S.

X-Energy is a developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology; Doosan Enerbility is a supplier of nuclear power plant equipment and provider of power generation and energy solutions; KHNP operates nuclear and hydroelectric plants in South Korea.

X-energy’s Xe-100 is a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor that can produce 80 MW of electricity or 200 MW of high-temperature steam. Ben Reinke, X-energy’s Senior Vice President of Global Business Development, previously spoke to Power Engineering about the Xe-100 design, a leading example of what is expected to be nuclear’s next chapter.

“This partnership brings together proven nuclear leadership and experience from Korean industry and X-energy’s advanced reactor and fuel technology to meet a historic energy challenge,” said X-energy CEO J. Clay Sell. “By combining our expertise, we are ensuring that we are best positioned to accelerate the Xe-100 SMR into the marketplace with the unique knowledge and skills developed throughout the South Korea industrial supply chain. Collaboration between the United States and South Korea in this critical sector is vital to preserving American leadership in the AI race and surpassing China as the leader in nuclear development.”

The agreement builds on X-energy’s existing relationships with its Korean partners, including DL E&C, an engineering and construction services company with whom X-energy has partnered since 2023. X-energy and Amazon are seeking to build a “world-leading ecosystem of partners” that will support delivery of X-energy reactors to its customers. Additionally, Doosan has agreed to secure the manufacturing capabilities required for the successful deployment of Xe-100 modules.

“As more countries seek to introduce SMRs in response to the climate crisis and to strengthen energy security, global competition for SMR development is becoming increasingly fierce,” said KHNP president and CEO Dr. Joo-ho Whang. “By strengthening cooperation with the United States, I expect that the technological and business capabilities of both countries will generate strong synergies in the global SMR market. This partnership positions us to meet the needs of a 21st century economy with the safest, most secure, and most proliferation-resistant fuel and reactor technology today.”

X-energy is advancing its initial Xe-100 deployment with Dow Inc. at its UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Demonstration Program established under the first Trump administration. In May 2025, the proposed four-reactor project reached a milestone with its construction permit application accepted for an 18-month review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. X-energy is also advancing its second Xe-100 deployment with Energy Northwest in Washington state in collaboration with Amazon. The Energy Northwest site is expected to initially host four Xe-100 reactors with plans to expand to 12.