Partnership targets over 5 GW of new nuclear power in the U.S. by 2039 to meet surging AI and data center demand.
Up to $50 billion in public and private capital will be mobilized to scale X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMRs) and supply chains.
Collaboration strengthens U.S.–South Korea ties in advanced nuclear, positioning both nations to lead global SMR competition.
X-energy, Amazon, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and Doosan Enerbility have signed a strategic agreement to accelerate deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The partners plan to deliver more than five gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2039, with potential expansion into global markets.
The initiative is designed to meet growing electricity needs from AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, while aligning with the U.S.–Korea $350 billion trade pact. The companies aim to mobilize up to $50 billion in investment for reactor projects and supply chain expansion.
“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. “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.”
KHNP president and CEO Dr. Joo-ho Whang emphasized the global stakes, noting: “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. 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.”
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Amazon Web Services is positioning nuclear energy as a backbone for AI growth. “Data centers are the critical infrastructure needed to support AI leadership, and their power needs continue to accelerate to meet the growing needs of our customers,” said Vibhu Kaushik, AWS Head of Worldwide Energy. “By forming this partnership with KHNP and Doosan along with X-energy, we’re continuing to pursue innovative carbon-free solutions and technology to help meet the increasing energy demand, and we’re excited that this will help us enable over five gigawatts of new nuclear energy in the U.S.”
Doosan Enerbility will provide advanced manufacturing support. Chairman Park Ji-won remarked: “We are honored to seize this opportunity to accelerate the commercialization of Xe-100 technology, made possible through the support and interest of both governments. Doosan will faithfully fulfill its role, leveraging its proven manufacturing expertise, to ensure that this MOU becomes a model example of bilateral cooperation in the energy industry.”
The agreement builds on X-energy’s partnerships with Korean engineering and construction firms, including DL E&C, and comes as the company advances two major U.S. projects: its initial Xe-100 deployment with Dow Inc. in Texas, which has entered regulatory review, and a planned multi-reactor site with Energy Northwest in Washington State, developed in collaboration with Amazon.
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