The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) for the PWR-5 pilot reactor at the RELLIS Energy Proving Ground. This approval marks the final and most comprehensive safety analysis in the DOE authorization process for the project.
The PWR-5 is a 5-megawatt nuclear reactor manufactured by Last Energy. It is located in the STEM Education and Research Center on the Texas A&M-RELLIS campus. The reactor is currently under construction as part of the RELLIS Energy Proving Ground, a facility dedicated to next-generation energy research, testing, and workforce development. The campus spans 3,300 acres and is part of the Texas A&M University System.
The project aims to demonstrate safe, low-power criticality initially, with later phases focused on generating electricity for the grid. The Energy Proving Ground will test small modular reactors and other nuclear technologies in collaboration with private firms, including Last Energy and Terrestrial Energy Inc.
In May, the DOE approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for the project, establishing the preliminary safety basis for the reactor, facility, and planned operations. The recent DSA approval builds on that foundation, detailing how the reactor and facility will be operated safely.
Robert L. Albritton, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, stated that the system is helping build the future of energy in Texas. He noted that RELLIS was created to bring big ideas out of the laboratory and into the real world, helping ensure the state and country remain leaders in energy and technology.
