Lightbridge Fuel Positioned to Support DOE’s 5 GW UPRISE Expansion with $289B Loans
UPRISE aims to add 2.5 GW by 2027 and 5 GW by 2029 via uprates, restarts and life extensions at existing reactors with up to 80% financing from $289 billion DOE loan authority. Lightbridge’s helical multi-lobe fuel runs 1 000°C cooler and is undergoing irradiation tests to support higher power uprates beyond 2030.
1. UPRISE Initiative Details
The Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort (UPRISE) aims to deliver 2.5 GW of additional nuclear capacity by 2027 and 5 GW by 2029 through power uprates, reactor restarts and life extensions. The DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance has $289 billion in loan authority, offering up to 80% project financing at attractive rates.
2. Lightbridge Fuel Advantages
Lightbridge Fuel’s helical multi-lobe design operates approximately 1,000°C cooler than conventional fuel, boosting safety margins and reducing hydrogen generation risk during design-basis events. This advanced fuel is engineered to enable greater power uprates at existing pressurized water reactors, aligning with UPRISE’s objective to maximize output from current assets.
3. Testing and Deployment Timeline
Irradiation tests of enriched uranium-zirconium alloy fuel samples commenced in November 2025 at Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor. Progress in these trials positions Lightbridge to support the next phase of capacity expansion beyond 2030 as the initiative shifts toward advanced fuel technologies.