Abilene Christian University (ACU) has made history by securing a construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build the Natura MSR-1, a groundbreaking liquid salt fueled reactor. This milestone marks the first time the NRC has licensed a liquid salt fueled reactor in the United States, and it also signifies the first approval of a new research reactor in over 30 years.
The Natura MSR-1, a 1 megawatt thermal molten salt reactor system, will be deployed at ACU as the first of its kind. This construction permit is only the second ever issued for an advanced nuclear reactor, a newer generation of nuclear power designed to be safer, more efficient, and cost-competitive than traditional nuclear reactors.
“If we’re going to meet the growing energy needs, not only in the State of Texas but in our country and the world at large, we must begin deploying advanced nuclear reactors,” said Douglass Robison, Natura Resources founder and president. “The Natura MSR-1 deployment at ACU will not only demonstrate successful licensure of a liquid-fueled molten salt reactor but will provide operational data that will allow us to safely and efficiently design and deploy our commercial systems.”
To bring this project to fruition, Natura Resources has established the Natura Resources Research Alliance, a collaboration between ACU’s NEXT Lab, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The MSRR will be housed at ACU’s Dillard Science and Engineering Research Center, the nation’s first advanced reactor demonstration facility outside of a national lab.
“ACU is thrilled to have Natura as a partner as we work together to answer the world’s increased demand for reliable energy, medical isotopes, and clean water through the deployment of liquid-fueled molten salt reactors. With the NRC’s issuance of the construction permit, we are one step closer to making that a reality. The performance-driven approach of Natura Resources to advanced reactor deployment has quickly moved them from a relative unknown to a leader in the upstart advanced reactor industry,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president.
The construction permit review encompassed a thorough environmental assessment and a safety evaluation to ensure the proposed reactor wouldn’t pose any risks to public health and safety. ACU’s environmental review was completed in March with a finding of “no significant impact.” The recently completed safety review concluded that the preliminary design of the Natura MSR-1 meets federal regulations and is safe to construct.
“We appreciate the thorough reviews by the NRC staff,” said Ben Beasley, NEXT Lab director of licensing. “This construction permit is the first step in the NRC’s two-step licensing process. The construction permit allows ACU and Natura to build and operate the MSRR without uranium. The next step is to apply for and receive the operating license, which will authorize ACU and Natura to fuel the reactor and demonstrate the elegance of molten salt technology.”
With the construction permit secured, Abilene Christian will continue collaborating with Natura to submit an application for an operating license, while Natura will finalize the detailed design of the MSR-1. Both entities are aiming to submit the operating license application in the first half of 2025.
The research reactor will serve as Natura’s initial deployment, accelerating the development of their 100 MWe systems intended for commercial applications. In pursuit of this goal, Natura is working to develop a small modular MSR system and recently announced a partnership with the Texas Produced Water Consortium to explore the deployment of their liquid-fueled molten salt technology alongside water treatment facilities, providing a unique solution for reliable, dispatchable energy and water treatment.
The success of this project highlights the growing interest and investment in advanced nuclear technologies, particularly molten salt reactors, as a viable pathway toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. ACU’s commitment to research and development, coupled with Natura Resources’ innovation, places them at the forefront of this exciting technological revolution.
