The nuclear startup terrestrial energy becomes public through SPAC, netting of $ 280 million in merger

The ground energy, a small nuclear startup, merged with a company to acquire on Wednesday.

North Carolina -based company develops small modular reactors and expects not to be $ 280 million from the deal. Before the merger of SPAC, Terrestrial energy has raised $ 94 million, according to Pitchbook. The combined entity expects to list NASDAQ under the IMSR symbol.

The ticker is a reference to the aroma of the ground energy of the small modular reactor (SMR), which it calls an integral melted salt reactor. In such a device, uranium fuel is mixed with different salts, such as lithium fluoride or sodium fluoride, which serve to stop nuclear fuel and act as the main coolant of the reactor.

The terrestrial reactor is designed to be completely replaced every seven years, partly, in order to embark on some of the problems, early melted salt reactors tested as corrosion. The core of the reactor includes not only the fuel and graphite modulators that regulate the speed of division reactions, but also the heat exchangers and pumps that keep the salt cool and flowing.

Starting is aimed at a number of markets, including electricity, data centers and industrial applications that require heat.

There are many existing proposals for the construction of melted salt reactors on a commercial scale, but to date, none has been built. The main technology was invented in the 1950s, but two experiments from this era are affected with problemsS

Nuclear energy has received renewed attention as electrification of buildings and transport combined with Rapid growth of data centersSend an electricity demand.

Technical companies are increasingly interested in technology as a possible solution to the requirements for electricity from AI training and conclusions. Google., Meta., Amazonand Sam Altman from Openai All have chosen a horse in the competition for the development of advanced nuclear reactors.

Ground energy is not the first SMR startup for SPAC-remedied by Altman OKLO completed her deal In 2024 – and given the current overwhelming energy, it may be the last.