Lightbridge Corporation has begun irradiation testing of its proprietary enriched uranium‑zirconium alloy fuel in the Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The program, launched under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) that dates back to April 2020, places capsule‑encapsulated fuel samples in a high‑flux neutron environment to evaluate thermo‑mechanical behavior, burnup characteristics, and radiation damage under realistic reactor conditions.
The ATR test is a critical step in Lightbridge’s roadmap to regulatory qualification and commercial deployment. By generating data on how the alloy performs under sustained neutron exposure, the company can demonstrate safety and efficiency advantages over conventional uranium dioxide fuel, a prerequisite for NRC licensing and for positioning its product in both existing light‑water reactors and next‑generation small‑modular reactors.
Dr. Scott Holcombe, Lightbridge’s Vice President of Engineering, said the start of capsule irradiation “marks a pivotal step in demonstrating the performance of Lightbridge Fuel. The data generated in this phase will help us validate key thermo‑mechanical properties of our fuel alloy and how these properties vary with irradiation, moving us closer toward commercial deployment.” INL’s Dr. Jess Gehin added that the ATR “provides a world‑class platform for evaluating advanced nuclear materials under realistic conditions,” underscoring the credibility of the testing environment.
Lightbridge’s progress comes amid a favorable regulatory backdrop. The 2024 ADVANCE Act is expected to streamline NRC processes for advanced fuel technologies, and the NRC has already listed Lightbridge Fuel on its “Longer Term Accident Tolerant Fuel Technologies” page. The company remains pre‑revenue and unprofitable, with significant R&D expenditures, but the ATR results will be a key data point for future funding rounds and partnership negotiations.
While the company has not yet reported a commercial launch, the successful completion of ATR testing will strengthen Lightbridge’s competitive position in the emerging advanced nuclear fuel market and provide the evidence needed to attract investors, secure additional government contracts, and move toward the next phase of fuel fabrication and licensing.
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