Nuclear graphite output doubles for pebble-bed reactors with eight-unit annual capacity

Advanced reactor technology and components used in nuclear power systems.X Energy, Getty X-energy, a Maryland-based advanced nuclear company, is investing up to $8 million to expand the supply of a specialized graphite used in its Xe-100 reactors, with the increased production capable of supporting material for as many as eight reactors a year. The investment will go to SGL Carbon, which makes NBG-18, a nuclear-grade graphite used in the Xe-100’s pebble-bed core. Under the agreement, SGL will upgrade its facility in Chedde, France, to double its European production capacity for the material by 2030. The company will also expand its US capacity to machine graphite billets into reactor components. The move aims to address a growing supply challenge for advanced nuclear projects as they move toward commercial-scale production. X-energy’s pipeline now exceeds 11 GW, making a reliable supply of specialized, safety-critical materials increasingly important. Nuclear needs more than reactors One of those materials is NBG-18, a nuclear-grade graphite that plays two important roles inside the Xe-100’s pebble-bed core. It acts as a neutron moderator and a structural component, making a dependable supply important to both the reactor’s design and manufacturing. SGL has already begun producing NBG-18 billets in France under a three-year award worth more than $100 million. The first billets have been shipped to SGL facilities in the US for machining. X-energy also began non-nuclear testing and validation of the material earlier this year at its Technology Advancement Center in Frederick, Maryland. The latest agreement builds on a 10-year supplier framework signed by the companies in January 2026. Instead of simply securing material for a single project, the expansion is intended to increase production capacity ahead of additional Xe-100 orders. “Commercializing new nuclear at scale rests first and foremost on our ability to significantly expand the nuclear supply chain, a challenge that extends beyond any one company, supplier, or nation,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “We look forward to driving this work forward with SGL, and to engaging with potential partners who share our bold vision for a robust, resilient, U.S. and allied nuclear supply chain.” The arrangement also adds another link to the US nuclear supply chain, with graphite produced in Europe moving to the US for machining before being used in reactor components. Building graphite for fleets The partnership also adds another link to the US nuclear supply chain, with graphite produced in Europe moving to the US for machining before being used in reactor components. “For SGL Carbon, this agreement is a strategically important step that strengthens our position in the highly specialized growth market for nuclear-grade graphite, underscores the importance of our graphite expertise for safety-critical applications, and opens up attractive opportunities for further growth,” said Andreas Klein, CEO of SGL Carbon. The expanded production is initially intended to support X-energy’s first commercial Xe-100 deployment, a proposed four-reactor plant with Dow under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. X-energy and SGL are also considering further capacity investments in other regions. If completed as planned, the expansion would give X-energy a larger supply of a material essential to the Xe-100’s design, helping the company prepare for additional reactor projects beyond its first commercial plant.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.