Texas bill advances nuclear projects

History: A memorandum of understanding signed in January by Texas Tech, ACU, Natura Resources, and the Texas Produced Water Consortium aims to advance liquid-fueled molten salt reactor technology to address the state’s water and energy challenges. The goal of the collaboration is to integrate MSR technology with water desalination systems, aiming to purify produced water from oil and gas operations for beneficial use.

The liquid-fueled MSR from Natura Resources was licensed last year by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be constructed on ACU’s campus in Abilene, Texas. Targeted to be the nation’s first research reactor in more than 30 years, it is a step toward commercial deployment of the technology in the Permian Basin to provide energy and beneficial use of produced water. The appropriation to Texas Tech will include a subaward to ACU for research, development, permitting, licensing, and construction of the MSR through the university’s Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing Laboratory.

More benefits: MSR technology will also generate medical isotopes essential for cancer treatment, diagnostic imaging, and other advanced medical procedures, which will help alleviate global shortages.

In addition, the partnership among Texas Tech, ACU, and Natura Resources should contribute to workforce development, research, and the establishment of a supply chain within Texas.

Quotable: “Texas Tech University is proud to partner with Abilene Christian University and Natura Resources in advancing desalination of produced water through cutting-edge molten salt reactor technology,” said Lawrence Schovanec, president of Texas Tech University. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to innovation, sustainability and addressing critical energy and water security challenges.”

Doug Robison, founder and CEO of Natura Resources, added, “We are deeply grateful to the Texas legislature for their historic commitment to advanced nuclear innovation. This appropriation allows Natura and ACU to deploy the nation’s first advanced, liquid-fueled reactor in late 2026.”

ACU president Phil Schubert commented, “ACU, along with our partners, is positioned to become a national leader in advanced nuclear training and research, setting a global standard for clean energy and medical advancements.”