US funding for Thai SMR feasibility study

The agreement was signed in Bangkok on 14 September by Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and Narin Phoawanich, Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

The USTDA-funded study will help EGAT assess potential locations, costs and the regulatory steps needed to move forward Thailand's plans for deploying small modular reactor (SMR) technologies that would generate about 600 MWe. The vendor-neutral study will consider reactor designs made by US companies GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse and X-Energy.

USTDA-funded programming is carried out by US companies. The agency said it will issue a request for proposals for this study from interested US firms.

"The study's recommendations will create a new pathway for Thailand to develop a secure and diverse energy supply, positioning US companies to play a leading role in building Thailand's civil nuclear energy infrastructure," USTDA said.

"This grant represents an important foundation for Thailand to evaluate the potential role of SMR technology in strengthening energy security and supporting a cleaner energy future," Phoawanich said. "We highly value the opportunity to learn from American innovation, expertise and experience while advancing cooperation between our two countries."

Hardy added: "For the United States, this partnership advances our commitment to American innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy. It is part of America's nuclear renaissance – an era of renewed innovation and investment that is creating new opportunities to deploy advanced technologies at home and around the world. It reflects a broader foreign policy priority: working with trusted partners to expand access to reliable energy technologies while strengthening energy security across the Indo-Pacific."

In February this year, USTDA announced USD2.7 million in funding for technical assistance to Meralco PowerGen Corp, to evaluate US small modular reactor designs and develop an implementation roadmap for the Philippines' first SMR nuclear power plant.

USTDA is an independent federal government agency focused on connecting US companies with export opportunities in emerging markets. The agency achieves its mission by funding feasibility studies, technical assistance and pilot projects that integrate US private sector innovation into infrastructure projects at the critical early stages when design choices and technology options are determined. It also connects overseas project sponsors with US partners through its reverse trade missions, industry conferences and expert workshops.

In June 2025, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed a memorandum of understanding with EGAT for cooperation on SMRs and exploring their feasibility for future projects. That agreement will see the two companies exchange SMR-related technical information, hold a joint review of options for introducing an SMR in Thailand and cooperate on training personnel through on-site tours and staff and technology exchanges in the nuclear energy field.

Thailand does not currently have nuclear energy among its energy mix, although there have been various initiatives over the years to explore options, and it has had an operating research reactor since 1977. The Thai government has identified potential deployment of SMRs as a part of the country's long-term power development strategy.