Westinghouse Gets $7M for Additive Nuclear Fuel
The Department of Energy's ARPA-E program is funding Westinghouse to develop 3D-printed metallic nuclear fuel for advanced reactors.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Nuclear
Westinghouse Electric Company, headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, was selected to receive $7 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. The project will develop an additive manufacturing process to produce metallic nuclear fuel for its PowerBlock technology.
Why it matters
Utilities are seeking ways to maximize reactor output, extend fuel performance and improve plant economics, and the funding aims to generate technical data to inform future evaluation of PowerBlock for potential deployment across the United States.
The award is a $7 million ARPA-E project under the HORNIG programme for Gen IV reactors, with PowerBlock targeting 24-month fuel cycles and thermal output above 4,200 MW. The source does not report results from the project or a timeline for deployment.
The players
Westinghouse Electric Company
A nuclear technology company headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, known for designing pressurized water reactors and nuclear fuel systems.
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)
A research funding agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that supports high-risk, high-reward energy technology projects.
The details
Westinghouse will use Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) to produce metallic nuclear fuel, combining computational modelling with additive manufacturing to optimize fuel design and production. The work supports development of the company's PowerBlock nuclear fuel technology.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Westinghouse's ARPA-E funding selection is reported.
Big Picture
The award is made under the HORNIG programme for Gen IV reactors, extending federal support for advanced reactor research into additive manufacturing of metallic fuel. It builds on prior Gen IV development funded through the Department of Energy.
For households, this research is a long-term development rather than an immediate change, since the project is focused on generating technical data for future evaluation. Any effect on electricity costs would depend on whether PowerBlock is later deployed.
The takeaway
Federal funding for fuel innovation can lower the barriers to advanced reactors, but a technology's path from prototype to deployment remains uncertain. Watch for test results from the Westinghouse project as they become available.
Further reading
Explore more on Nuclear developments shaping U.S. reactor technology.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Metal Additive Manufacturing.
