EnCore High Energy Fuel (HEF): A New Standard in Fuel Performance
As global energy demand continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, it is critical to develop new technologies that can produce more power safely and reliably.
Drawing on deep industry expertise, we have been advancing our fuel designs for both existing nuclear plants and new builds through our EnCore® HEF program.
What You’ll Learn
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How the program unlocks greater reactor performance
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The technologies that make it possible
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The measurable benefits it delivers
Nuclear energy is already one of the most efficient power sources, but what if we could get even more out of it?
What is EnCore High Energy Fuel?
EnCore® HEF is a portfolio of advanced fuel technologies built to increase energy output and push reactor performance further.
By combining multiple innovations into one integrated approach, it helps plants get more from their fuel—improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and overall performance.
Meeting Today’s Energy Challenge
The program addresses a core industry challenge: how to generate more reliable energy while keeping costs under control.
It enhances existing technology – helping reactors unlock untapped potential. The result? Higher energy output, longer operating cycles and improved costs.
EnCore HEF brings together technologies such as ADOPT® pellets, PRIME™ features and AXIOM™ cladding to support a wide range of utility needs—from optimizing current performance to enabling long-term upgrades.
The Technology Behind EnCore High Energy Fuel
What drives higher performance inside today’s reactor cores?
At its core, the program combines advanced fuel designs, materials and cladding technologies to boost reactor performance.
It builds on three key components:
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PRIME™ features, supporting operation under more demanding conditions
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ADOPT® pellets, designed for exceptional durability and strong performance
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AXIOM™ cladding, providing enhanced resistance to corrosion at higher burnup
Working together, these innovations help reactors generate more energy per cycle while maintaining safe and predictable operations.
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EnCore Fuel |
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PRIME Features |
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Higher enrichment levels and more efficient fuel use allow plants to produce more power while making better use of every fuel assembly. The program also incorporates Accident Tolerant Fuel technologies designed to improve fuel performance under demanding conditions and strengthen overall resilience.
Those capabilities translate into measurable operational benefits:
Turning Innovation into Real-World Results
EnCore HEF technologies aren’t just concepts—they’re already being used in commercial reactors.
Fuel remains in service longer, outages occur less frequently and reactors generate more energy with each cycle. What began with small-scale test insertions has progressed to broader use across multiple plants and regions.
Fueling Progress
As the need for reliable electricity grows, our EnCore HEF Program is set to play an even bigger role.
Ongoing advancements in fuel materials and design are expected to further extend fuel lifetimes, increase output and improve efficiency, without the need for entirely new systems.
Over the long term, this combination of performance, flexibility and reliability positions EnCore HEF as more than an incremental improvement—it becomes a key enabler of nuclear energy’s future.
FAQs
Q: How does high energy fuel lower total fuel cycle costs?
A: EnCore High Energy Fuel helps reduce costs by getting more value from each fuel load. It enables longer operating cycles and produces more energy over time, meaning fewer refueling outages and better overall efficiency.
Q: How does it enhance accident tolerance compared to traditional fuel designs?
A: EnCore High Energy Fuel uses more robust materials that perform better under extreme heat and stress. This added resilience gives operators greater safety margins and more time to respond in challenging situations.
Q: Why is it called “high energy” fuel?
A: The name reflects what it delivers—more energy from the same amount of uranium, helping reactors operate more efficiently.
