Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a customer-centric?
When we say FANCO aims to be the first customer-centric nuclear energy company, we mean we designed EAGL-1 and the Deployment System around what power buyers actually need — affordable, reliable energy that fits within today’s regulatory and financial frameworks.
Our model is based on first-build cost competitiveness, reduced construction risk through factory fabrication, and flexible deployment structures that work in both regulated and competitive markets — not on speculative future breakthroughs.
How does FANCO work with utilities and commercial power customers?
EAGL-1 and the FANCO Deployment System are designed to support a range of market structures, including rate-based utility ownership, long-term power purchase agreements, and select industrial behind-the-meter deployments — always in coordination with and supportive of the broader grid.
When and where will the first EAGL-1 reactor or FANCO Energy Park be deployed?
We are currently evaluating several projects and will make a decision this year.
How many FANCO Energy Parks do you have planned?
We’re focused on finalizing our first project. That said, EAGL-1 and the FANCO Deployment System are designed to be both modular and replicable, so we look forward to a future with multiple projects.
What kind of reactor is EAGL-1?
EAGL-1 is a small modular reactor (SMR) and a liquid metal fast reactor (LMFR). Importantly, EAGL-1 is the only reactor in the U.S. of any kind cooled by lead-bismuth. The unique properties of lead-bismuth make it possible to deliver reliable, utility-scale nuclear power at a cost comparable to other existing power generation sources.
How is FANCO able to deliver safe, reliable nuclear power at such a low cost?
The unique properties of lead-bismuth allow for a design that eliminates or reduces the most expensive and risky aspects of delivering nuclear energy at scale.
Specifically, lead-bismuth operates at low pressure and does not react violently with air or water, removing the need for high-pressure systems, large containment domes, and costly intermediate loops.
The resulting simple and compact design can also use off-the-shelf equipment, rather than custom-engineered parts, and be 100% factory manufactured and assembled, rather than onsite.
How does FANCO ensure safety?
The properties of lead-bismuth bring safety to the EAGL-1 reactor through the immutable laws of physics, which minimizes costly engineered containment systems.
Lead-bismuth operates under low pressure, so there’s no risk of pressure-related incidents. It’s non-reactive when in contact with air or water, which means no risk of fire or explosions. Finally, lead-bismuth has an extremely high boiling point, which means that it continues to cool the reactor even in the event of loss of power.
What type of fuel does EAGL-1 use?
Unlike other reactors, EAGL-1 was deliberately designed from day one to operate on various kinds of fuels. That flexibility provides us multiple pathways to remain cost-effective in the face of supply chain evolutions.
Although it’s a fast-spectrum advanced reactor, EAGL-1 can operate on uranium oxide (UO2), which is the cost-effective and ubiquitous fuel form used by most traditional reactors today.
It can also operate with mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, transuranic (TRU) fuels, recycled uranium, as well as fuels derived from existing stockpiles of material that would otherwise remain long-term waste.
How will FANCO deal with waste?
Instead of using fuel once, EAGL-1 can recycle and reuse its fuel several times to extract additional energy, creating a loop of use and reuse.
In this configuration, EAGL-1 uses 95% of its fuel as energy, leaving behind a much smaller amount of material to dispose of. What is left behind decays (becomes harmless) in hundreds of years, compared to tens of thousands of years when fuel is used just once and treated as “waste.”
Importantly, the process never separates plutonium from uranium and other man-made, heavy elements called “transuranics.” Keeping plutonium and other transuranics mixed makes the material inherently unsuitable for weapons use, eliminating the chance of proliferation.
Where is FANCO in the NRC licensing process?
FANCO has submitted its Regulatory Engagement Plan to the NRC and anticipates a smooth licensing process due to the FANCO team’s ability to design a program that meets NRC standards.
While EAGL-1 is in the licensing process, FANCO customers can get immediate power with its proprietary Bridge Power™ solution, which uses off-the-shelf package boilers to feed a common steam turbine. The EAGL-1 reactor then replaces the package boilers to feed the same steam turbine, seamlessly transitioning to carbon-free nuclear energy with minimal equipment and modification costs.
Bridge Power™ can use natural gas and alternative forms of fuel. It may also remain onsite after transitioning to nuclear to provide backup power during EAGL-1 refueling and maintenance outages.