XE

X-Energy, Inc.

A maker of next-generation nuclear power plants, this American company designs the Xe-100, a small modular reactor that runs on graphite "pebble" fuel coated in layers of carbon and ceramic (TRISO fuel) for extra safety. Founded in 2009 by engineer Kam Ghaffarian, who also co-founded the space station company Axiom Space, X-Energy is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Its Xe-100 plants are meant to be built in modules, so a site can start with a few reactors and add more as demand grows.