Curio, a developer of advanced nuclear recycling technologies, has secured an additional $2.5 million in cost-shared funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This capital injection, supplemented by approximately $1 million in company investment, is designated to advance the NuCycle® recycling process. The funding supports critical lab-scale validation of selective fluoride volatility and electrowinning operations using actual used nuclear fuel (UNF) and transuranics (TRU). This development is a pivotal step toward Curio's objective of establishing a demonstration plant by 2027.
NuCycle® Lab-Scale Validation and Research
The new funding enables specialized research at two major national facilities: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). At PNNL, scientists will conduct fluorination experiments to validate the NuCycle® process's ability to separate uranium from other radioactive materials, ensuring recycled fuel meets strict industry safety and quality standards. Simultaneously, the SRNL team will focus on developing and testing electrowinning equipment. This hardware will utilize ultra-high temperatures and electricity to extract transuranics from liquid salt, collecting them safely as a solid metal mixture.
Beyond physical testing, Curio is moving toward commercial readiness by establishing regulatory compliance pathways. The company intends to translate experimental data into preliminary engineering designs, including conceptual design reports for both fluorination and electrowinning equipment. This work involves developing regulatory engagement plans, performing exemption analyses, and producing detailed cost estimates and process flow diagrams. These activities are essential for transitioning from laboratory-scale validation to the deployment of a scaled prototype capable of processing 4,000 metric tons of UNF by the end of 2027.
Scaling Nuclear Fuel Recycling Infrastructure
Curio’s current trajectory follows a significant 2023 milestone where a $5 million ARPA-E award enabled side-by-side lab demonstrations at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), ORNL, and PNNL. Having met key go/no-go milestones in September 2025, the company is now accelerating its technical and regulatory roadmap. The strategic importance of this work lies in its ability to transform domestic nuclear waste reserves into untapped resources, potentially fueling a "Second Nuclear Era."
The company is also building an ecosystem of industry partnerships to support its deployment goals. Curio has established Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with several key players, including NuScale, Framatome, Sargent & Lundy, and Utilities Service Alliance. Furthermore, the company has initiated its Part 70 operating license application process. These combined efforts—technical validation, regulatory preparation, and strategic partnerships—are designed to position Curio to meet its ambitious 2027 deployment timeline for large-scale nuclear fuel recycling.
Key Takeaways
- Curio received $2.5 million in cost-shared ARPA-E funding, matched by $1 million in company investment.
- Research will focus on fluorination at PNNL and electrowinning at SRNL using actual used nuclear fuel and transuranics.
- The company aims to operate a demonstration plant capable of processing 4,000 metric tons of UNF by the end of 2027.
EnergyInsyte's Take
In our view, this funding signals a significant federal commitment to closing the nuclear fuel cycle through advanced chemical separation. By funding specific unit operations like fluoride volatility and electrowinning, the DOE is moving past theoretical models into high-fidelity validation using actual transuranics. This is a critical de-risking step for the industry. Curio’s simultaneous pursuit of regulatory pathways and MOUs with major entities like Framatome and NuScale suggests they are not just conducting science, but building a commercialized infrastructure. If Curio successfully meets its 2027 target, it could fundamentally shift the economics of nuclear waste management from a liability to a resource.
Questions & Answers
How will the new funding specifically advance the NuCycle® technology?
The $2.5 million award will fund lab-scale validation of selective fluoride volatility and electrowinning operations. This includes using actual used nuclear fuel (UNF) and transuranics (TRU) to ensure the process can separate uranium and collect transuranics as solid metal.
What is the long-term capacity goal for Curio’s recycling operations?
Curio aims to develop a scaled prototype laboratory and demonstration plant that is capable of processing up to 4,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel by the end of 2027.
Which national laboratories are involved in this phase of development?
Research will be conducted at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for fluorination experiments and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) for electrowinning equipment testing.
How is Curio preparing for the regulatory requirements of deployment?
Curio is establishing compliance pathways by developing regulatory engagement plans, performing exemption analyses, and creating conceptual design reports that include equipment specifications and cost estimates.
Source: BUSINESSWIRE
