ARPA-E HORNIG Program supports continued development of advanced fuel designs and manufacturing approaches
Cranberry Township, PA, October 29, 2026 – Westinghouse Electric Company announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for funding through the High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors (HORNIG) program to support the continued development of PowerBlock™, an advanced nuclear fuel technology. The project will draw on Westinghouse’s nuclear fuel and manufacturing expertise to further advance the technology’s development.
The PowerBlock technology is designed to advance the traditional nuclear fuel assembly, targeting 24-month fuel cycles at thermal power levels above 4,200 megawatts. Its approach combines new fuel architectures with advanced manufacturing techniques to improve fuel performance and expand operational flexibility.
“As utilities look for new ways to maximize output, extend fuel performance and improve plant economics, innovation in fuel technology has never been more important,” said Ben Solich, President of Nuclear Fuel at Westinghouse. “PowerBlock represents a bold new approach to nuclear fuel design, and Westinghouse is well-positioned to utilize our deep expertise in nuclear fuel technology and manufacturing to further advance fuel innovation.”
The ARPA-E HORNIG program supports the development of innovative technologies that have the potential to advance nuclear energy performance and economics. Through this award, Westinghouse is expected to further develop the PowerBlock technology and generate the technical data needed to support future evaluation and deployment opportunities.
