Fermi America, Hyundai E&C team up for Texan reactors

In June, Fermi America announced plans for the world's largest energy-driven artificial intelligence complex. Located in Amarillo, Texas, in partnership with the Texas Tech University System, the project is expected to be a first-of-its-kind behind-the-meter HyperGrid campus that will "integrate the largest nuclear power complex in America, the nation's biggest combined-cycle natural gas project, utility grid power, solar power, and battery energy storage to deliver next-generation artificial intelligence". The company - co-founded by former US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry - said that geotechnical work had already begun on the campus which is expected to deliver a gigawatt of online power by the end of 2026.

On 17 June, Fermi America submitted its Combined Operating License Application to build four Westinghouse AP1000 reactors as part of the project. It noted the application was accepted for review in record time. Fermi America plans to begin construction on the nuclear power complex next year and aims to have the first reactor operational by 2032.

Fermi America has now announced that it has signed an MoU with Hyundai E&C "setting forth the material terms under which the parties will jointly design and execute the delivery of safe, clean new nuclear power" within the power complex.

Under the MoU, the two companies will cooperate on: joint planning of a nuclear-based hybrid energy project; development of detailed work packages for each project stage; basic design (front-end engineering design, FEED); and pursuit of an EPC contract within the year.

"We couldn't be more pleased to partner with the team at Hyundai E&C to power the future of AI," said Fermi America co-founder Toby Neugebauer. "America doesn't have time to practice – we need to work with proven partners like Hyundai, who have a successful track record of planning and building safe, clean, new nuclear energy."

"This agreement is significant in that it allows us to participate in the project from its early stages and contribute to the creation of the world's largest integrated energy and artificial intelligence campus with various energy infrastructures," a Hyundai E&C spokesperson said. "Using this as an important starting point, we will proactively secure various new energy business opportunities in the US and global markets, and continue to strengthen our competitiveness."