Latest news with #SmallModularReactor
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
VIEWPOINT: How Thermal Energy Storage Can Maximize the Promise and Instill Safety in Nuclear SMRs
This third installment of Brenmiller Energy's (NASDAQ:BNRG) "Viewpoint" Series explores how the Company's bGen™ system can help unlock the full potential of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Energy industry veteran and Chief Executive Officer Avi Brenmiller explains how thermal energy storage can bridge the gap between safe, clean heat generation and real-world demand. TEL AVIV, IL / ACCESS Newswire / July 11, 2025 / For decades, nuclear energy has sat at the center of the clean energy debate. It's powerful, reliable, carbon-free-and divisive. Critics point to high costs, operational rigidity, and the mismatch between steady-state output and a grid now shaped by real-time demand and fluctuating renewables. But the truth is, the reactor isn't the problem. It's what happens after the reactor does its job. The good news? That problem is solvable. Brenmiller Energy (NASDAQ:BNRG) (the "Company" or "Brenmiller") - a publicly traded thermal energy storage (TES) company-is one of the few players offering a practical, proven energy storage solution. Its bGen™ system, when modified for SMRs, can act as a thermal buffer, storing clean heat from nuclear reactors and releasing it on demand 24/7/365. It's potentially an innovative fix to one of nuclear's biggest limitations - and potentially one of the most important enablers of the nuclear renaissance no one's talking about yet. But that silence isn't likely to last. Why? As governments invest hundreds of millions in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the reactivation of dormant nuclear sites, they're discovering that critical pieces are missing from the equation: flexibility, dispatchability, and load-following. In short, nuclear needs a buffer-something that can take its powerful, clean, steady heat and make it not only more nimble but usable. Brenmiller's bGen™ thermal storage system provides exactly that. And it does so with a simplicity that's almost deceptive in its power. The Ally Nuclear Has Always Needed Let's start with the obvious: nuclear is great at one thing-baseload. It produces a constant stream of heat and electricity, day and night, rain or shine. But in today's world, that's not always an asset. Modern grids are increasingly volatile, shaped by solar and wind generation that can spike or drop in minutes. Industrial customers need heat when their processes call for it-not necessarily when the reactor happens to be online at full power. And utilities are under pressure to reduce over-generation and improve capacity factor economics without overbuilding. That's a tall order for nuclear. But it's precisely the kind of problem Brenmiller's TES platform was built to solve. Our bGen™ system can store thermal energy - whether from a solar field or industrial waste heat - and releases it on demand. It acts like a giant thermal battery, decoupling generation from consumption. If our bGen™ is configured for an SMR, the nuclear reactor can keep humming at its optimal set point while bGen™ could handle the peaks, troughs, and timing mismatches. And bGen™ isn't a theoretical solution - it's commercially proven, already deployed in four countries, and being adapted for the next wave of applications like SMR.. In July 2025, we announced that Brenmiller is developing a new bGen™ configuration specifically engineered for SMRs and high-resilience industrial applications. This product builds on our commercially deployed platform and reflects insights from the installation with Enel, a major European utility company, where bGen™ was used to decarbonize combined heat and power operations. Unlike conventional nuclear storage integrations, this version of bGen™ requires only minor engineering adjustments. Its high thermal mass, passive heat absorption, built-in heat exchanger, and compatibility with secondary and tertiary nuclear loops make it a natural fit for SMR-linked projects. These features also support decay heat removal, load following, and real-time grid balancing - all essential to meet modern energy expectations. With the SMR market projected to grow at a 30% CAGR to $72 billion by 2033, we believe our timing and technology positioning are aligned with a global resurgence in nuclear investment, driven by the need for cleaner computing, AI infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization at scale. Potential Synergies of SMRs and TES Take Oklo and Nano Nuclear Energy, two emerging leaders in the SMR space. Both are developing compact, next-generation reactors built to deliver reliable, carbon-free energy in decentralized, industrial, and off-grid environments. But even with innovative designs, they face the same limitation: delivering safe clean heat on demand - not just when the reactor produces it. Brenmiller's bGen™ system is aiming to cure this shortfall. Following the adaptation of the bGen™ system for SMRs that is under development, we believe that when paired with SMRs, it will enable true demand-driven delivery. The result? Potentially constant generation with flexible dispatch and improved economics. With a TES configured for SMR, capacity factors could stay high and heat could be stored when the market doesn't need it and sold when prices spike or customers call. With our development of TES configured for SMR, we aim to ensure that nuclear will be not just clean, but also safe, agile, profitable through Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) models, and relevant in a world demanding both sustainability and responsiveness. Safety and Risk Reduction Through Thermal Buffering Beyond flexibility, TES also improves the safety profile of nuclear systems - a critical factor for regulatory acceptance and public confidence. The bGen™ system can absorb decay heat - the residual thermal energy that continues after a reactor is shut down. This passive heat removal capability can support safer shutdown procedures and mitigate thermal transients, which can otherwise stress reactor materials and control systems. TES can also reduce: The need for reactor oversizing to meet peak loadsThe risk of load rejection during low-demand periodsUnnecessary thermal cycling that shortens equipment life In short, thermal storage could add not just operational value-but structural and safety value. A Better Business Model for Atomic Energy Still, we believe that Brenmiller's value-add doesn't stop at technical integration - it can impact nuclear's business case. By absorbing and time-shifting thermal output, we aim to enable the adapted bGen system to allow nuclear operators to avoid overbuild while serving more customers. Utilities can size SMRs more efficiently and sell heat as a service to nearby industrial clients. Large-scale hydrogen production can operate intermittently without idling reactors. District heating networks gain new reliability and cost stability. In short, we believe that the adaptation of Brenmiller's bGen™ system will give nuclear leverage. It's not just about storing heat - it's about enabling new revenue streams, de-risking operations, and accelerating return on investment across complex deployments. And that's what the sector needs right now. Because nuclear power is no longer just a policy decision. It's a business. And businesses need flexibility to win. Clean Heat on Demand Let's not forget what's at stake here. Industrial heat accounts for more than 25% of global final energy consumption. And most of it still comes from fossil fuels. While electricity is going green fast, thermal energy has lagged behind - not because we lack clean sources, but because we lack the systems to make clean heat dispatchable. This is the bottleneck. And we believe that Brenmiller's TES tech is one of the very few solutions on the market that's modular, commercially ready, and fuel-agnostic. That last part matters. Because while today's conversation may be about nuclear, Brenmiller's bGen™ is currently being deployed as a solution for electrification of industrial heat from different sources. That means it's not just a bolt-on - it's infrastructure. And for any clean heat strategy to succeed, infrastructure wins the day. Action Over Debate and Academia The nuclear sector doesn't need another whitepaper or pilot-it needs tools that work today. Our systems are already operational, with global collaborations in energy and industry. And with the current development of our new bGen™ configuration for SMRs, we're aiming to deliver a technology designed to support clean baseload generation with the responsiveness that today's grid and industrial customers demand. While others remain in R&D, we are actively shaping the energy infrastructure of tomorrow through modifications to our existing bGen platform. If nuclear is going to thrive - not just survive - it will need TES solutions as a key ally. We believe that bringing TES into the nuclear conversation could be what finally proves the skeptics wrong about the most powerful energy source on Earth. By Avi Brenmiller, Chief Executive Officer, Brenmiller Energy Ltd., a global provider of thermal energy storage solutions deployed across Europe, Israel, and the U.S. About bGen™ bGen™ ZERO is Brenmiller's TES system, which converts electricity into heat to power sustainable industrial processes at a price that is competitive with natural gas. The bGen™ ZERO charges by capturing low-cost electricity from renewables or the grid and stores it in crushed rocks. It then discharges steam, hot water, or hot air on demand according to customer requirements. The bGen™ ZERO also supports the development of utility-scale renewables by providing critical flexibility and grid-balancing capabilities. bGen™ ZERO was named among TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 in the Green Energy category and won Gold in the Energy Storage and Management category at the 2025 Edison Awards. About Brenmiller Energy Ltd. Brenmiller Energy helps energy-intensive industries and power producers end their reliance on fossil fuel boilers. Brenmiller's patented bGen™ ZERO thermal battery is a modular and scalable energy storage system that turns renewable electricity into zero-emission heat. It charges using low-cost renewable electricity and discharges a continuous supply of heat on demand and according to its customers' needs. The most experienced thermal battery developer on the market, Brenmiller operates the world's only gigafactory for thermal battery production and is trusted by leading multinational energy companies. For more information visit the Company's website at and follow the company on X and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the company is using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses: the Company's belief that its bGen™ system can help unlock the full potential of SMR technology; that the Company expects that nuclear energy's limitations can be solved with its bGen™ thermal buffer system; that the Company anticipates increasing interest in its solution as governments invest in SMRs and nuclear site reactivations; that the bGen™ system will be able to provide flexibility, dispatchability, and load-following needed for modern nuclear applications; the Company's belief that bGen™ is a match for addressing timing mismatches and peak demands in energy use; the future adaptation of the bGen™ for SMR applications and its future advantages; future SMR market growth estimations; that bGen™ will be able to improve the safety profile of nuclear systems by passively absorbing decay heat; and that the adapted bGen™ system can enable new revenue streams, de-risk operations, and accelerate ROI. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "plan," "project," "potential," "seek," "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate" or "continue" are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that certain crucial factors may affect the company's actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be made in this press release. Factors that may affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to: the company's planned level of revenues and capital expenditures; risks associated with the adequacy of existing cash resources; the demand for and market acceptance of our products; impact of competitive products and prices; product development, commercialization or technological difficulties; the success or failure of negotiations; trade, legal, social and economic risks; and political, economic and military instability in the Middle East, specifically in Israel. The forward-looking statements contained or implied in this press release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 4, 2025, which is available on the SEC's website, The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Contact: investors@ SOURCE: Brenmiller Energy
Business Wire
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Ameresco Hires Director of Nuclear Partnerships to Support its Growth in Energy Infrastructure Development
BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers navigate the energy transition, today announced the appointment of Cenk Güler as Director of Nuclear Partnerships. This strategic hire underscores Ameresco's commitment to offer the most advanced energy infrastructure to its portfolio of customers. In this newly created role, Cenk Güler will lead Ameresco's entry into the nuclear energy market, with a focus on microreactor and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. He will be responsible for strategic partnerships, technical diligence, and nuclear network development across the industry and federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. Ameresco has long been at the forefront of delivering advanced energy infrastructure solutions for broad range of customers. This foundation of proven, resilient technologies positions the company as a trusted leader in the evolving energy landscape. The addition of nuclear capabilities builds on that legacy to meet growing demand for reliable power. 'Cenk brings a wealth of experience and technical leadership in nuclear innovation, fuel technologies, and strategic partnerships,' said Nicole Bulgarino, President of Federal Solutions and Utility Infrastructure at Ameresco. 'His expertise will be instrumental in aligning our energy infrastructure initiatives with both national and international priorities as well as the rapidly expanding data center market.' Prior to joining Ameresco, Cenk Güler held senior leadership roles at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he led global teams in advanced reactor development, space power applications, and high-energy fuel technologies. He holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and advanced degrees in Nuclear Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and Hacettepe University. 'I'm excited to join Ameresco and contribute to advancing its nuclear energy initiatives,' said Cenk Güler. 'This role offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful partnerships and help shape the future of infrastructure across federal, utility, and international markets through innovative nuclear technologies.' This appointment marks a significant step in Ameresco's mission to support the future of clean, resilient energy infrastructure through deep technical expertise and strategic innovation. To learn more about Ameresco, visit About Ameresco, Inc. Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC) is a leading energy solutions provider dedicated to helping customers reduce costs, enhance resilience, and decarbonize to net zero in the global energy transition. Our comprehensive portfolio includes implementing smart energy efficiency solutions, upgrading aging infrastructure, and developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources. As a trusted full-service partner, Ameresco shows the way by reducing energy use and delivering diversified generation solutions to Federal, state and local governments, utilities, educational and healthcare institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. Headquartered in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,500 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe. For more information, visit
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TVA reapplies for $800M grant to ‘accelerate' construction of Small Modular Reactor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Valley Authority has reapplied for an $800 million grant to 'accelerate' the construction of the country's first Small Modular Reactor (SMR), which could potentially be installed at the TVA's Clinch River Nuclear Site. The reapplication comes after the U.S. Department of Energy updated grant criteria for the original $800M grant the TVA applied for in January, which was created and appropriated by Congress in 2024. The TVA said the DOE asked applicants to reapply after the criteria were updated. Company awarded grant to build centrifuge facility in Oak Ridge Since 2023, the TVA has been working with working with GE Hitachi, Ontario Power Generation and Synthos Green Energy to develop the standard design for the BWRX-300 SMR. In January, the TVA and its partners announced that they were entering the planning phase for the initial construction and design of the SMR for the TVA' Clinch River Nuclear Site. The TVA said it has completed the Environmental Review for the Clinch River project and has sent a notification of intent to submit a Construction Permit Application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The TVA is hoping to submit the application by this summer, and earlier this month, it submitted an application for a separate DOE grant for $8 million in support of the NRC license review costs, the TVA said. According to the TVA, preliminary site preparation for the Small Modular Reactor could begin as soon as 2026. 'We are facing a historic moment that could decide our nation's energy security for decades to come and the world is looking for American leadership,' said Don Moul, TVA President and CEO. 'This is not about building an SMR. We are working to develop a technology, a supply chain, a delivery model and an industry that will unleash American energy.' 'A design anchored in reality' Knoxville company one step closer to creating fusion power plant In January, the TVA released a document that said the nominal energy output for the BWRX-300 SMR would be 300 Megawatts of electrical capacity. Based on an explanation of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, if the reactor were able to operate at full capacity for every hour of every day for 365 days, the SMR could produce up to 2,628,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year. In Tennessee, the advanced energy industry accounts for more than 400,000 jobs and is growing faster than the state's overall economy, one report from 2024 states. The report added that in 2022, advanced energy added $56 billion to Tennessee's GDP during 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Russia's Rosatom says will proceed with Myanmar nuclear plant despite quake
Bangkok: A plan to build a nuclear power plant will continue in Myanmar, a war-torn Southeast Asian country partly devastated by a massive earthquake in March, the Russian state-owned firm leading the project told Reuters. Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month signed an agreement for a small-scale nuclear facility, three weeks before the 7.7 magnitude quake flattened communities and left more than 3,700 people dead - the country's deadliest natural disaster in decades. The agreement involves cooperation to build a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Myanmar with an initial 110 MW capacity, consisting of two 55 MW reactors manufactured by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom . "The recent earthquake has not affected Rosatom's plans in Myanmar," the company's press office said in an email. "Rosatom adheres to the highest international safety and reliability standards, including strict seismic resistance requirements." The company's intention to go ahead with the nuclear plan despite the quake, which crippled critical infrastructure, has not been previously reported. Rosatom declined to provide any construction timeline or details of the location of the proposed nuclear facility that will be powered by RITM-200N reactors, which were made by the company for use initially on icebreaker ships. A Myanmar junta spokesman did not respond to calls from Reuters seeking comment. The push for nuclear power in Myanmar comes amid an expanding civil war triggered by a 2021 military coup that removed the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Facing a collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups set up in the wake of the coup, the ruling junta has lost ground across large parts of the country and increasing leaned on its few foreign allies, including Russia. The conflict, which stretches from the border with China to the coast along the Bay of Bengal, has displaced more than 3.5 million people and left Myanmar's mainly agrarian economy is tatters. Myanmar is currently evaluating options for financing the Russia-backed nuclear power project. "This may involve both own and borrowed funds," Rosatom said. In places such as Bangladesh and Egypt, Russia has funded conventional nuclear power projects through low interest loans. Authorities in neighbouring Thailand, which is closely monitoring Myanmar's nuclear developments, assess that a plant could be built in Naypyitaw, a fortified purpose-built capital that was heavily damaged by the earthquake, according to a security source briefed on the matter. Two other potential sites include a location in the central Bago region and the Dawei special economic zone in southern Myanmar, where the junta and Russia have announced plans to build a port and an oil refinery, according to the Thai assessment. Myanmar lies on the boundary between two tectonic plates and is one of the world's most seismically active countries. Money And Manpower Southeast Asia's first nuclear facility - the 621 MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines - was finished in 1984 with a price tag of $2.3 billion but mothballed in the wake of the Chornobyl disaster in the then Soviet Union two years later. The Philippines and other regional countries have since mounted repeated efforts to explore nuclear energy but made limited progress. Vietnam is, however, renewing a bet on nuclear power after it suspended its programme in 2016. Russia and Myanmar have been collaborating in the sector for years, with Burmese students studying nuclear energy and related subjects in Russian universities under government quotas since 2019, according to Rosatom. In comparison to a large conventional nuclear power reactor, components of SMRs can be assembled and transported as a single unit to the installation location, according the International Atomic Energy Agency. "I do not foresee any complication, technology-wise," said Doonyapong Wongsawaeng, a lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "I feel that the main challenge would instead be the continuous commitment from the Myanmar government." With the Myanmar junta prioritising exports of natural gas, which could be used to fuel cheaper domestic power generation, to earn foreign exchange, the nuclear plan makes no economic sense for a cash-strapped administration, said Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at International Crisis Group. "Nuclear power is very expensive, and Myanmar simply can't afford it," he said.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Russia's Rosatom says will proceed with Myanmar nuclear plant despite quake
FILE PHOTO: Myanmar's military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing presents a book to Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, March 4, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Russia's Rosatom says will proceed with Myanmar nuclear plant despite quake BANGKOK - A plan to build a nuclear power plant will continue in Myanmar, a war-torn Southeast Asian country partly devastated by a massive earthquake in March, the Russian state-owned firm leading the project told Reuters. Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month signed an agreement for a small-scale nuclear facility, three weeks before the 7.7 magnitude quake flattened communities and left more than 3,700 people dead - the country's deadliest natural disaster in decades. The agreement involves cooperation to build a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in Myanmar with an initial 110 MW capacity, consisting of two 55 MW reactors manufactured by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom. "The recent earthquake has not affected Rosatom's plans in Myanmar," the company's press office said in an email. "Rosatom adheres to the highest international safety and reliability standards, including strict seismic resistance requirements." The company's intention to go ahead with the nuclear plan despite the quake, which crippled critical infrastructure, has not been previously reported. Rosatom declined to provide any construction timeline or details of the location of the proposed nuclear facility that will be powered by RITM-200N reactors, which were made by the company for use initially on icebreaker ships. A Myanmar junta spokesman did not respond to calls from Reuters seeking comment. The push for nuclear power in Myanmar comes amid an expanding civil war triggered by a 2021 military coup that removed the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Facing a collection of established ethnic armies and new armed groups set up in the wake of the coup, the ruling junta has lost ground across large parts of the country and increasing leaned on its few foreign allies, including Russia. The conflict, which stretches from the border with China to the coast along the Bay of Bengal, has displaced more than 3.5 million people and left Myanmar's mainly agrarian economy is tatters. Myanmar is currently evaluating options for financing the Russia-backed nuclear power project. "This may involve both own and borrowed funds," Rosatom said. In places such as Bangladesh and Egypt, Russia has funded conventional nuclear power projects through low interest loans. Authorities in neighbouring Thailand, which is closely monitoring Myanmar's nuclear developments, assess that a plant could be built in Naypyitaw, a fortified purpose-built capital that was heavily damaged by the earthquake, according to a security source briefed on the matter. Two other potential sites include a location in the central Bago region and the Dawei special economic zone in southern Myanmar, where the junta and Russia have announced plans to build a port and an oil refinery, according to the Thai assessment. Myanmar lies on the boundary between two tectonic plates and is one of the world's most seismically active countries. MONEY AND MANPOWER Southeast Asia's first nuclear facility - the 621 MW Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines - was finished in 1984 with a price tag of $2.3 billion but mothballed in the wake of the Chornobyl disaster in the then Soviet Union two years later. The Philippines and other regional countries have since mounted repeated efforts to explore nuclear energy but made limited progress. Vietnam is, however, renewing a bet on nuclear power after it suspended its programme in 2016. Russia and Myanmar have been collaborating in the sector for years, with Burmese students studying nuclear energy and related subjects in Russian universities under government quotas since 2019, according to Rosatom. In comparison to a large conventional nuclear power reactor, components of SMRs can be assembled and transported as a single unit to the installation location, according the International Atomic Energy Agency. "I do not foresee any complication, technology-wise," said Doonyapong Wongsawaeng, a lecturer at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "I feel that the main challenge would instead be the continuous commitment from the Myanmar government." With the Myanmar junta prioritising exports of natural gas, which could be used to fuel cheaper domestic power generation, to earn foreign exchange, the nuclear plan makes no economic sense for a cash-strapped administration, said Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at International Crisis Group. "Nuclear power is very expensive, and Myanmar simply can't afford it," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
