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 advanced reactor developer and a global engineering, procurement and construction company to address the sharply rising demand for firm, dispatchable generation.
The MOU identifies two areas of cooperation: support for the first U.S. deployment of the ARC-100 at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and support for completion of the ARC-100 design and for U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing under 10 CFR Part 53. ARC signed a Strategic Partnership Projects agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance in May 2026, which includes formation of the project consortium and participation of the Korean nuclear supply chain. The partnership with Hyundai Engineering aims to leverage that supply chain and HEC's engineering capabilities.
The timing is significant as demand for reliable power in the United States rises sharply, driven in large part by the growth of AI data center load. INL is one of four federally managed sites designated by the U.S. Department of Energy for AI data center and energy infrastructure development. A spokesperson for Hyundai Engineering noted that electricity demand from AI data centers and industrial users is growing faster than existing supply can meet across many markets, and that the ARC-100's scale and output are well matched to those applications.
James Wolf, Chief Executive Officer of ARC Clean Technology, said that Hyundai Engineering brings the delivery capability a first-of-a-kind project requires. He emphasized that the ARC-100 builds on thirty years of prototype operating experience, the design is in its final phase, and the company is in pre-application engagement with the NRC. Wolf added that ARC is looking for partners with a proven record in delivering complex energy infrastructure, and that this agreement is a first step in understanding where HEC's capabilities and the Korean supply chain can fit alongside ARC's own.
The ARC-100 is a 100-megawatt advanced small modular reactor designed to provide safe, reliable, and economical carbon-free power for electricity, industrial applications, and the rapidly growing demand for AI data centers. ARC is a U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program awardee advancing first U.S. deployment at INL, with international deployment programs in Canada and Türkiye. For more information, visit www.arc-cleantech.com. Hyundai Engineering, established in 1974, has grown into a global engineering company representing Korea on the world stage; further details are available at www.hec.co.kr/en.
The collaboration underscores the growing role of advanced nuclear technology in meeting the energy needs of the digital economy. By combining ARC's reactor design with Hyundai Engineering's construction expertise and the Korean supply chain, the partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of the ARC-100, which could serve as a model for future deployments in the U.S. and beyond. The MOU represents a critical step toward commercializing fourth-generation nuclear technology and addressing the dual challenges of energy security and decarbonization.
