Texas A&M-RELLIS Partners with Terrestrial Energy to Advance Small Modular Reactor Development
On April 3, 2015, the Texas A&M University System announced a series of lease and research agreements with Terrestrial Energy Inc. aimed at accelerating the development of the company’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) at the RELLIS campus in College Station, Texas. The agreements grant Terrestrial Energy site control over roughly 77 acres of land and provide a framework for site characterization, environmental assessments, testing, and related research activities.
Agreement Details
The lease covers a portion of the RELLIS Energy Proving Ground, a dedicated area designed for demonstration and commercial‑operations planning of advanced energy technologies. Under the research agreements, Terrestrial Energy will:
- Conduct geological and hydrological surveys to support site characterization.
- Perform environmental impact assessments in coordination with state and federal regulators.
- Carry out bench‑scale and pilot‑scale testing of IMSR components.
- Collaborate with Texas A&M faculty and graduate students on reactor physics, thermal‑hydraulics, and materials science research.
These activities are intended to generate the data needed for licensing submissions to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and to inform the company’s commercialization roadmap.
Supporting Initiatives
The work at RELLIS builds on several broader programs:
- RELLIS Energy Proving Ground – created by the A&M System to offer advanced energy companies access to land, research expertise, testing facilities, and workforce partnerships within one of the nation’s largest public university systems.
- U.S. Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program – Terrestrial Energy was selected for this federal initiative, which was announced in 2025 following Executive Order 14301 to accelerate testing of advanced reactor designs outside national laboratories.
- TETRA and TEFLA Projects – DOE‑funded partnership projects that focus on thermal‑energy transport and fuel‑loop analysis for molten‑salt reactors.
Statements from Leadership
Robert L. Albritton, Chief Executive of Terrestrial Energy, emphasized the national significance of the collaboration:
“President Trump has made clear that America must move faster to develop the next generation of nuclear energy,” said Albritton. “Texas is ready to help with this work. At the RELLIS campus, the A&M System has the land, research capacity and workforce to help bring critical energy technologies into the commercial world. This work can strengthen our state, our economy and our national security.”
Chancellor Glenn Hegar of the Texas A&M System highlighted the institution’s mission:
“The Texas A&M System was designed to solve problems important to Texas and the nation,” said Hegar. “Reliable energy is one of those issues. At A&M‑RELLIS, we bring together industry, researchers and public partners to work on practical energy solutions that can support growth, strengthen the grid and prepare students for high‑demand careers.”
Bobby Gutierrez, Mayor of Bryan, noted the local impact:
“Energy is the catalyst for everything that drives our state and our nation forward,” Gutierrez said. “These critical challenges are boldly examined and tested every day on the RELLIS campus, making our community a premier destination for the advancement of new technologies. The City of Bryan is honored to help solve these challenges by supporting investments from companies like Terrestrial Energy.”
Broader Context and Impact
The United States faces rising electricity demand driven by population growth, expansion of data centers, advances in artificial intelligence, and the resurgence of energy‑intensive manufacturing. Small modular reactors (SMRs) such as Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR are viewed as a potential source of low‑carbon, baseload power that can be deployed closer to industrial loads and remote communities.
By hosting Terrestrial Energy’s development work, the RELLIS campus contributes to:
- Advancing Generation IV reactor technology that operates at higher temperatures with improved safety margins.
- Providing a skilled workforce pipeline through student involvement in research projects.
- Strengthening Texas’s position as a hub for clean‑energy innovation and high‑tech manufacturing.
Related Projects on the RELLIS Campus
Terrestrial Energy’s agreement follows other recent milestones at RELLIS:
- In May 2024, Last Energy announced that the U.S. Department of Energy had approved the preliminary documented safety analysis for its PWR‑5 pilot reactor project on campus.
- Terrestrial Energy has opened an engineering and project‑management office on the RELLIS campus to coordinate work with the A&M System, DOE, and other partners.
- The campus continues to host collaborations in advanced manufacturing, transportation security, and workforce development, reinforcing its role as a multidisciplinary research hub.
Conclusion
The partnership between Texas A&M‑RELLIS and Terrestrial Energy exemplifies how public universities can facilitate the transition of emerging nuclear technologies from laboratory concepts to commercially viable solutions. By providing land, research infrastructure, and access to a talented student workforce, the A&M System aims to help accelerate the deployment of safe, scalable nuclear power that could
