Spotlight
MSRR – Abilene Christian University Application
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Who: | Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
| What: | Application for a construction permit for a molten salt research reactor (MSRR) |
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| When: | August 12, 2022 (date of application submittal) |
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| Where: | Abilene, Texas | |
| Website: | https://acu.edu/next |
On this page:
Project Overview
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a construction permit for the Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) to ACU on September 16, 2024. ACU’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Laboratory (NEXT Lab) mission is to provide global solutions to the world’s need for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering.
| Plant Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Reactor Type | Low-power molten salt research reactor to support academic research. |
| Containment Type | Functional containment (See SECY-18-0096 for a description of functional containment.) |
| Power Level | Up to 1 MWth (The research reactor will not produce electricity.) |
| Fuel | High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) dissolved in Flibe salt. |
For additional detail, see the following related pages:
Key Milestones
| Key Milestones | Completion Date Actual - A Target - T |
|---|---|
| Safety Review | |
| Draft Safety Evaluation - Safety evaluation sections drafted and information gaps identified. | 07/08/2024 - A |
| Advanced Safety Evaluation - Safety evaluation sections completed and assembled. | 07/29/2024 - A |
| Final Safety Evaluation - Final safety evaluation updated and issued. | 09/16/2024 - A |
| Environmental Review | |
| Initial Environmental Assessment | 11/30/2023 - A |
| Environmental Assessment | 03/14/2024 - A |
Contacts
| Contacts for the MSRR – Abilene Christian University Application | |
|---|---|
| Safety Project Managers | Richard Rivera 301-415-7190 Edward Helvenston 301-415-4067 |
| Environmental Project Managers | Patricia Vokoun 301-415-3470 Joseph Giacinto 301-415-0714 |
| Public Affairs Officer | Scott Burnell 301-415-8204 |
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, February 13, 2025
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, February 13, 2025