SOLO nuclear reactor promises fast, clean energy for Middle East

The MMR offers a scalable solution designed for rapid deployment, passive safety, and autonomous operation, unlocking new markets for carbon-free power worldwide, Alessandro Petruzzi tells OGN

- ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

A GROUNDBREAKING micro-modular reactor (MMR) design by US-based Terra Innovatum is poised to redefine the nuclear energy landscape across the Middle East and emerging markets.

Dubbed SOLO, the 1-MWe unit combines passive safety, autonomous operation, and factory-built scalability to deliver clean energy within six months of order, marking a radical departure from traditional nuclear timelines.

In an exclusive interview to OGN energy magazine, Alessandro Petruzzi, Co-Founder and CEO, Terra Innovatum, says what sets SOLO apart is its ability to operate for 15 years without refuelling, use of low-enriched uranium, and cool without water.

With pilot projects in the GCC region under active consideration, Terra Innovatum is aligning its deployment roadmap with regional economic goals.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

What sets Terra Innovatum's SOLO micro-modular reactor (MMR) apart from other MMR technologies currently in development or deployment globally?

SOLO™ is a fully modular, factory-assembled solution that is designed to generate 1 MWe per unit, while leveraging the existing supply chain and mass manufacturing, enabling rapid, global deployment and predictable costs and timelines.

An important factor of this design is a "rule of precedent" approach, where all components used to build SOLO have already been licensed, derisking our pathway through diverse regulatory environments.

With its modular approach, SOLO can deliver up to 1 GW of energy production safely and with minimal land use due to its 2.5-m-thick biological shield, which eliminates the need for an emergency planning zone.

Another major differentiating element of SOLO is its fuel use. It's designed to operate using standard low-enriched uranium (LEU)–U-235 (below 5 per cent) –for 15 years without refuelling – a feature that doesn't exist currently in the micro-modular reactor space.