Texas partnership evaluates SMR use for water desalination

The goal of this collaboration, which includes the Texas Produced Water Consortium (TxPWC) at Texas Tech, "is to provide a sustainable solution for water scarcity by purifying produced water from oil and gas operations, making it available for agricultural and other beneficial uses", Natura said. Natura announced in July last year that it had joined the consortium to evaluate the deployment of Natura's molten salt reactor technology to meet energy and water needs in the Permian Basin in a partnership dubbed Fortifying the Future. 

TxPWC was established by the Texas legislature in 2021 to focus on the potential for beneficial uses of treated produced water outside the oil and gas industry of the Permian basin (produced water is water that is produced as a byproduct of oil and gas extraction, and is typically salty or brackish as well as containing hydrocarbon residues). With administrative oversight from Texas Tech University, in coordination with the Government Agency Advisory Council and the Stakeholder Advisory Council, the consortium is specifically tasked with providing the legislature and state agencies with guidance and recommendations on policies that could encourage a system of beneficial use that is both environmentally safe and economically viable.

"Natura Resources' MSR technology represents a significant advancement in clean energy innovation, equipping Texas with the tools to meet its energy and water needs for decades to come," said Natura founder and CEO Doug Robison. "Our partnership with Texas Tech University and Abilene Christian University exemplifies our collaborative approach to addressing critical challenges and driving technological advancements. This collaboration will pave the way for the commercial development and deployment of MSR technology in Texas and beyond."

"This partnership will address critical challenges we face as a state," said Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec. "By working with Natura and Abilene Christian University, we're securing crucial water resources and driving innovation in energy. By creating greater access to water, energy and jobs, we will contribute to a stronger future for our communities. Texas Tech is proud to be part of this collaborative effort."

Senator Charles Perry, Chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs, said: "Natura's advanced nuclear technology offers a promising solution to our state's water and energy challenges. By integrating desalination with energy production, we can ensure a sustainable future for Texas."

In September last year, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a licence to Abilene Christian University for the construction of a molten salt research reactor on its campus in Abilene, Texas, marking the first construction permit for a liquid-fueled advanced reactor and only the second for any advanced reactor issued by the NRC.

Abilene Christian University's molten salt research reactor (MSRR) will be the first deployment of the Natura MSR-1, a 1 MWt, graphite-moderated, fluoride salt flowing fluid (fuel dissolved in the salt) research reactor. The MSRR will be used for on-campus nuclear research and training opportunities for faculty, staff and students in advanced nuclear technologies. The reactor will significantly expand the university's salt reactor research and development infrastructure, supporting US molten salt reactor design, development, deployment and market penetration.​​

Natura is partnering with Texas A&M University to deploy the MSR-100 - a 100 MWe system for commercial applications - at the RELLIS Campus. This initiative is part of a broader project known as the Energy Proving Ground, which involves multiple nuclear reactor companies. The project aims to bring commercial-ready small modular reactors to the site, providing a reliable source of clean energy for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.