TerraPower has taken a critical step toward international deployment of its Natrium® reactor by initiating the United Kingdom’s Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process. The move signals strategic intent to enter a global market increasingly focused on decarbonization, grid stability, and energy security. The GDA, overseen by UK nuclear regulators, will assess the safety and viability of the sodium-cooled fast reactor and its integrated molten salt-based energy storage system.
This advancement comes as TerraPower’s U.S. project in Wyoming proceeds through regulatory milestones, including early federal and state construction approvals. The company’s domestic progress may serve as a model for UK regulators looking to accelerate timelines for advanced nuclear technologies.
However, geopolitical and trade tensions could complicate the pathway. The United States recently expanded tariffs on imported clean energy components, including steel and aluminum, which are essential to nuclear infrastructure. These 25% tariffs are expected to increase material costs and prolong lead times for energy projects, potentially affecting TerraPower’s ability to competitively source equipment across borders.
The tariff impact is not insignificant. According to industry analysts, clean energy developers are already reassessing procurement strategies to mitigate exposure to cost volatility and supply chain disruptions. For a capital-intensive technology like Natrium, which relies on specialized metals and high-integrity components, tariffs could challenge financial modeling and delay construction timelines—particularly in international projects like those being considered in the UK.
Despite these headwinds, TerraPower’s entry into the UK market aligns with broader strategic objectives. The UK government has committed to tripling its nuclear capacity by 2050 and recently launched Great British Nuclear to facilitate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced designs. The Natrium system, which can boost output from 345 MWe to 500 MWe for over five hours, offers the kind of flexible, dispatchable capacity needed to complement intermittent renewables.
Additionally, the UK’s regulatory embrace of non-light-water reactors represents a shift toward innovation, offering TerraPower an opportunity to help shape the country’s energy future. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data suggests that advanced nuclear technologies—particularly those with hybrid power-storage capabilities—will be essential to meeting mid-century net-zero goals.
