Terra Innovatum Makes Significant Progress in NRC Licensing for SOLO Micro-Modular Reactor

Terra Innovatum Srl and GSR III Acquisition Corp. have announced significant progress in the licensing process for the SOLO Micro-Modular Reactor currently under review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The company submitted its Regulatory Engagement Plan to the NRC in January 2025, establishing a structured framework for regulatory interactions under the non-power reactor licensing pathway outlined in NUREG-1537.

Several technical documents, including white papers and topical reports, have been submitted and formally discussed with NRC staff. This stepwise approach allows the NRC to evaluate key technical and safety elements earlier in the process, providing detailed insight into the design and safety features while streamlining the overall review. A key milestone was the submission of the Principal Design Criteria topical report, which defines fundamental safety and design requirements forming the basis for the reactor's licensing review.

The NRC accepted the report for full technical evaluation and indicated in a formal letter dated July 30, 2025, its intent to complete the review process by the end of 2025 and issue a Safety Evaluation by April 2026. Cesare Frepoli, Co-Founder, COO & Director of Regulatory Affairs at Terra Innovatum, stated that these milestones represent a significant step forward and reaffirm the strength of their collaborative approach with the NRC.

The SOLO MMR is a 1 MWe, helium-cooled reactor designed to operate with commercially available low-enriched uranium fuel. Its inherent safety characteristics, modular construction, and simplified operations provide a cost-effective, scalable solution for industrial users requiring reliable heat and power. Unlike traditional nuclear systems, SOLO can be deployed off-grid, supports flexible siting with a small land footprint, and offers simplified maintenance through factory fabrication and modular replacement.

Giordano Morichi, Partner, Chief Business Development Officer & Investor Relations, emphasized that the SOLO MMR was conceived with embedded Safeguards-by-Design, ensuring proliferation resistance and security considerations are integrated at the earliest stages of development. This approach strengthens compliance with international non-proliferation requirements and facilitates regulatory acceptance across diverse markets from the United States to Europe and beyond.

The reactor addresses pressing global energy demands with applications ranging from data centers and remote communities to large-scale industrial operations in hard-to-abate sectors like cement production, oil and gas, steel manufacturing, and mining. Its ability to supply heat for industrial applications, water treatment, desalination, and co-generation, combined with the potential to scale to deliver up to 1GW or more of CO2-free power with minimal footprint, positions it as an ideal solution for rapidly replacing fossil fuel-based thermal plants. More information is available at https://www.terrainnovatum.com.