The EAGLES-300 lead-cooled fast Small Modular Reactor has been confirmed as one of eight priority projects selected by the European Industrial Alliance on SMRs to support the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies in Europe.
The confirmation follows the Alliance’s latest assessment in 2025 and comes shortly after a major milestone at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 69th General Conference in Vienna on 15 September, where EAGLES-300 was formally launched as the first pilot project under the IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative. The initiative aims to support regulatory alignment and streamline cross-border licensing for innovative nuclear technologies.
Led by Ansaldo Nucleare in partnership with ENEA, RATEN, and SCK CEN, the EAGLES programme unites Europe’s leading nuclear research centres and industrial partners. Roberto Adinolfi, chairman of the EAGLES Steering Committee, said the renewed recognition underscores the programme’s steady progress and Europe’s industrial capability in advanced nuclear innovation.
EAGLES-300 is a 300 MWe lead-cooled fast SMR designed for inherent safety, low-pressure operation, and passive heat removal. Its fast neutron spectrum allows improved fuel efficiency and compatibility with a closed fuel cycle. The reactor’s high-temperature output can support electricity generation as well as industrial applications such as hydrogen production and synthetic molecule synthesis. Fully developed within Europe, EAGLES-300 aims to strengthen energy security, reduce high-level waste, and support sustainable nuclear deployment.
Commercial deployment of EAGLES-300 is targeted for 2039, following successful operation of two demonstrators, LEANDREA in Belgium and ALFRED in Romania. According to the developers, the project represents a tangible step toward Europe’s long-term goals of energy sovereignty, industrial competitiveness, and clean, efficient nuclear power.
