Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 20, Last Energy, a U.S. microreactor developer, and the Texas A&M University System have announced plans for a microreactor pilot project at Texas A&M-RELLIS, an applied research and advanced technology campus in Bryan, Texas. The pilot will feature Last Energy’s PWR-5 reactor, a scaled version of its larger PWR-20 design. The 5-megawatt reactor will initially demonstrate safe, low-power criticality, with later phases aimed at generating electricity for the grid. Fully funded with private capital, testing is expected to begin in summer 2026.

A rendering of Last Energy’s RELLIS-campus project exterior building

Last Energy relocated its corporate headquarters to Austin, Texas, in May. The company has secured a lease at Texas A&M-RELLIS, procured a full-core fuel load, signed an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and begun formal licensing submissions. The company said the project will "complement Texas A&M's leadership in creating the environment to rapidly scale nuclear power innovation."

In August, the project was included in the DOE’s initial selection of 11 advanced reactor projects under the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, announced in June. The program, part of the Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the DOE executive order, aims to construct, operate, and achieve criticality of at least three test reactors using DOE authorization by July 4, 2026.

“We're partnering with Texas A&M to usher in the next Atomic Era,” said Bret Kugelmass, Last Energy founder and CEO. “With fuel in hand, an optimal site at RELLIS, and DOE authorization underway, we have the ideal conditions to demonstrate a standardised, scalable microreactor product in the United States.”

Glenn Hegar, Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, added: “This is exactly the kind of project we had in mind when we built Texas A&M-RELLIS. It's bold, it's forward-looking, and it brings together private innovation and public research to solve today's energy challenges. We're proud to work with Last Energy to help shape the future of nuclear power, and we are even prouder that it's happening right here at Texas A&M-RELLIS.”

The Texas A&M University System operates 12 universities across Texas and educates nearly 170,000 students annually. In February 2025, the system signed agreements with four small modular reactor developers—Kairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy, and Aalo Atomics—to bring their reactors to Texas A&M-RELLIS. Land has been offered to these companies for construction, with Early Site Permit applications underway with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The site is projected to accommodate multiple SMRs with a combined electrical output exceeding one gigawatt.

This initiative marks Last Energy’s first U.S. reactor deployment. In October 2024, the company announced plans for four microreactor power plants at the decommissioned Llynfi coal-fired plant in South Wales. In July 2025, Last Energy stated it is on track to obtain a site license decision by December 2027 after completing a Preliminary Design Review for its PWR-20 design.

The PWR-20 consists of modular units designed for fabrication, transport, and assembly within 24 months, aimed at private industrial customers. Last Energy owns and operates the plug-and-play power plants on customer sites, bypassing long grid upgrade timelines and enabling rapid deployment.