Energy Startup News #21: Commonwealth Fusion Raises $1B, Germany Embraces Nuclear, The Nuclear Company Secures $51M

Thorizon

Commonwealth Fusion Systems Secures $1B+ in Series B2 for ARC Reactor

Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised over $1 billion in its Series B2 round to advance the development of its ARC fusion reactor, bringing total funding to nearly $3.8 billion. The company plans to deliver fusion power by the early 2030s.
🔗 https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2025/05/13/commonwealth-fusion-systems-b2-fundraise-arc

The Nuclear Company Raises $51M to Develop Multi-Reactor Sites

Startup The Nuclear Company has raised $51 million to accelerate the development of large-scale reactor campuses, with a vision to deploy 100+ reactors per site to power energy-intensive industries.
🔗 https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/16/the-nuclear-company-raises-51m-to-develop-massive-reactor-sites/

Nano Nuclear Reports New Strategic Partnerships and Fiscal Updates

Nano Nuclear Energy has released its Q2 update, announcing new strategic collaborations, progress on reactor development, and preparation for expanded testing and licensing activities.
🔗 https://www.stocktitan.net/news/NNE/nano-nuclear-energy-announces-second-fiscal-quarter-and-recent-17zlcz2x00jf.html

NuScale Design Approval Faces Fresh Scrutiny from NRC

NuScale Power’s SMR design has hit a regulatory hurdle, with the NRC requesting additional information before finalizing the approval process. The delay raises concerns about deployment timelines.
🔗 https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nuscale-design-approval-small-modular-reactor-nuclear/748236/

Startups Turn to Nuclear Waste as Next-Gen Energy Source

A European energy firm is developing technology to generate electricity from nuclear waste, aiming to tap into long-lived isotopes to create low-maintenance, long-duration energy systems.
🔗 https://interestingengineering.com/energy/european-firm-generate-power-nuclear-waste

U.S. Startup Advances Next-Gen Molten Salt Reactor Design

An unnamed U.S. company is pushing forward with plans to commercialize a next-generation molten salt reactor, promising greater safety, compactness, and scalability compared to traditional nuclear systems.
🔗 https://interestingengineering.com/science/us-firm-next-gen-molten-salt-reactor

South Korea Leads Nuclear Comeback with Export-Driven Strategy

South Korea is emerging as a global leader in nuclear exports, revitalizing its domestic industry and winning reactor construction contracts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia.
🔗 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-05-14/south-korea-nuclear-energy-is-leading-the-industry-comeback?embedded-checkout=true

Israel to Consider Plans for First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

Israel is evaluating options for building its first nuclear power plant, citing concerns about energy security and the need for low-emission baseload generation.
🔗 https://www.nucnet.org/news/israel-to-consider-plans-for-first-commercial-nuclear-power-plant-5-2-2025

Enel and Partners Form Italian Nuclear Research Company

Enel has teamed up with a consortium of Italian and international partners to establish a new nuclear research company, focused on advanced reactor design, safety innovation, and international collaboration.
🔗 https://www.powerengineeringint.com/nuclear/strategic-development-nuclear/enel-and-partners-form-italian-nuclear-research-company/

Germany Backs Nuclear in Major Shift, Aligns with France on EU Energy Policy

Germany has officially dropped its opposition to nuclear power, signaling support for France’s push to treat nuclear as equal to renewables in EU legislation. The policy shift under new Chancellor Friedrich Merz paves the way for stronger Franco-German cooperation on energy and a unified EU stance on low-carbon technologies, including SMRs and fusion.
🔗 https://www.ft.com/content/e99efa2b-338a-4065-89c6-0683d5759ed7