Title: Amazon’s ‘Cascade’ Nuclear Project Advances with X-energy SMR Technology, Construction Set for 2030
In a landmark development for advanced nuclear energy, Amazon has unveiled detailed plans and renderings for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility—a 320-MW small modular reactor (SMR) complex that marks the first major project under its broader 5-GW nuclear partnership with X-energy. The announcement, detailed in an Oct. 16 blog post, signals a significant acceleration in commercial deployment of next-generation nuclear technology to power energy-intensive digital infrastructure.
The Cascade project will be owned, built, and operated by Energy Northwest on land adjacent to its Columbia Generating Station near Richland, Washington. Initial development will focus on a four-unit Xe-100 reactor pack capable of generating 320 MWe, with plans to potentially expand the site to 12 reactors producing 960 MWe. Construction is expected to begin by 2030, with operations targeted to commence in the 2030s. This initiative represents a growing trend of private sector investment in advanced nuclear technology to meet escalating power demands from artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure.
Technical Specifications and Design Innovation
X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor represents a fundamental advancement in nuclear technology. The high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) uses a helium-cooled, pebble-bed design operating at temperatures exceeding 750°C. Each reactor contains more than 200,000 continuously circulating graphite pebbles, with individual pebbles embedded with approximately 18,000 tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles—a robust fuel form that can withstand extreme temperatures and conditions.
Renderings published by X-energy depict a multi-island nuclear campus organized around the Xe-100’s modular construction philosophy. The fully developed 960-MW Cascade layout would be arranged in three groupings of four 80-MWe reactor units, each forming a self-contained “block” with its own reactor building, nuclear island auxiliaries, and turbine area. The compact design pairs with air-cooled condensers and streamlined electrical systems, with supporting infrastructure—including helium service, spent-fuel storage, and water management—repeated in standardized configurations to facilitate replication at future sites.
Strategic Partnerships and Development Timeline
The Cascade facility builds on Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund investment in X-energy, which POWER first reported in October 2024. Under this comprehensive partnership, Amazon committed direct capital to advance design and licensing of X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor, support its TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility in Tennessee, and back early-stage development with Energy Northwest in Washington state.
This collaboration represents one of several major infrastructure developments currently transforming the energy landscape. The project aligns with Amazon’s commitment to power its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, while simultaneously addressing the enormous energy demands of artificial intelligence and digital services.
Workforce Development and Economic Impact
Amazon emphasized that the Cascade facility is expected to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent positions in nuclear operations, engineering, and related technical fields. The project will serve as both a regional economic driver and workforce development catalyst for the Pacific Northwest.
“Investing in advanced training simulators prepares future operators and builds the foundation for a clean energy workforce that will power our region for decades to come,” said Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest. “This interactive experience helps demystify nuclear energy and goes beyond the textbook, showing students that a viable, meaningful career in clean energy is within reach.”
The project’s educational components include two sophisticated simulator environments—one at Columbia Basin College for training purposes, and another serving as X-energy’s full-scale control room prototype for design verification. Both facilities employ fully digital human-machine interfaces with multi-screen configurations that allow operators to monitor each Xe-100 reactor module in real time.
Broader Context and Industry Significance
The Cascade announcement marks another significant advancement for X-energy, which is concurrently developing an 800-MWth, four-unit Long Mott Generating Station in Texas with partner Dow under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). This parallel development underscores the growing momentum behind advanced nuclear technologies as solutions for both industrial energy needs and grid reliability.
Amazon’s foray into nuclear power comes amid broader shifts in energy policy and technology adoption. Similar to how Norway’s approach to electric vehicle incentives has created sustainable market transitions, Amazon’s investment in SMR technology represents a strategic pivot toward long-term, carbon-free energy solutions that can scale with technological demand.
However, the project also emerges against a backdrop of increased scrutiny regarding corporate partnerships and government contracts, reminiscent of concerns raised about transparency in major infrastructure projects. Amazon and X-energy have emphasized their commitment to rigorous safety standards and regulatory compliance throughout the development process.
Digital Infrastructure and Control Systems
The Cascade facility will feature an advanced digital control architecture that represents a significant departure from traditional nuclear plant designs. The classroom simulator, modeled after X-energy’s control room and housed in space donated by Washington State University Tri-Cities, is expected to be operational later this year.
This emphasis on digital innovation aligns with broader technological trends, including developments in open-source technology platforms that are transforming multiple industries. The fully digital human-machine interfaces will allow operators to monitor each Xe-100 reactor module in real time, providing unprecedented visibility into plant operations.
Environmental and Community Impact
While the overall Cascade complex will be capable of producing nearly 1 GW of electricity when fully built out, it will occupy only “a few city blocks”—a stark contrast to traditional nuclear facilities that can require more than a square mile of land. This compact footprint, combined with the carbon-free nature of nuclear energy, positions the project as a sustainable solution for meeting growing energy demands without corresponding increases in greenhouse gas emissions.
“This project isn’t just about new technology; it’s about creating a reliable source of carbon-free energy that will support our growing digital world,” said Kara Hurst, Amazon’s chief sustainability officer. “I’m excited about the potential of SMRs and the positive impact they will have on both the environment and local communities.”
X-energy CEO J. Clay Sell underscored the historic nature of the Cascade initiative, noting that “The support of Amazon has enabled us to grow our team with world-class talent and position the Cascade Advanced Energy Center at the forefront of energy innovation. We are privileged to have world-class partners like Amazon and Energy Northwest in this effort.”
As the Cascade project moves toward its anticipated 2030 construction start, it represents a significant test case for public-private collaboration in deploying advanced nuclear technology at grid scale—potentially establishing a replicable model for future clean energy development worldwide.
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