ARC Clean Technology and Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on the deployment of the ARC-100, a sodium-cooled advanced small modular reactor, in the United States and other markets. The agreement, announced on October 29, 2026, brings together a leading U.S. advanced reactor developer and a global engineering, procurement and construction firm, signaling a significant step toward commercializing fourth-generation nuclear technology.
The MOU identifies two primary areas of cooperation. First, the parties will support the first U.S. deployment of the ARC-100 at Idaho National Laboratory, where ARC signed a Strategic Partnership Projects agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance in May 2026. This includes forming a project consortium and integrating the Korean nuclear supply chain. Second, Hyundai Engineering will support the completion of the ARC-100 design and its licensing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under 10 CFR Part 53, a new regulatory framework for advanced reactors.
The collaboration is driven by surging demand for firm, dispatchable electricity, particularly from AI data centers and industrial users. A spokesperson for Hyundai Engineering noted, "Electricity demand from AI data centers and industrial users is growing faster than existing supply can meet, and that is true across many of the markets in which we work. The ARC-100 is among the most advanced of the fourth-generation designs now approaching deployment, and its scale and output are well matched to those applications." This partnership positions the ARC-100 to help meet that demand with carbon-free power.
James Wolf, CEO of ARC Clean Technology, emphasized the importance of Hyundai's delivery capability: "Hyundai Engineering brings the kind of delivery capability a first-of-a-kind project requires. The ARC-100 builds on thirty years of prototype operating experience, the design is now in its final phase, and we are in pre-application engagement with the NRC." He added that the agreement is a first step in understanding where HEC's capabilities and the Korean supply chain can fit alongside ARC's own.
The announcement comes as the U.S. Department of Energy designates Idaho National Laboratory as one of four federally managed sites for AI data center and energy infrastructure development. With the ARC-100's 100-megawatt modular design, the reactor is poised to provide reliable power for these applications. ARC, a U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program awardee, is also pursuing international deployment programs in Canada and Türkiye. More information about ARC can be found at www.arc-cleantech.com, and about Hyundai Engineering at www.hec.co.kr/en.
The partnership underscores the growing role of international collaboration in advancing nuclear technology and meeting future energy needs. By combining ARC's innovative reactor design with Hyundai's engineering expertise and the Korean supply chain, the MOU could accelerate the timeline for deploying advanced nuclear reactors in the U.S. and beyond.
