Natura Resources Unveils Two Advanced Nuclear Deployments to Power Texas’ Future

Tweet

Texas is growing. Fast. So is its need for reliable electricity and clean water — and Natura Resources plans to deliver both. The company just announced the deployment of two MSR-100 advanced nuclear reactors, each designed to do more than just generate power. One will sit deep in the Permian Basin. The other, at Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus. Together, they signal a bold step toward a more sustainable, energy-secure future for the Lone Star State.

For the Permian Basin deployment, Natura Resources has signed an MOU with Texas Tech University, Abilene Christian University, and the Texas Produced Water Consortium. At the heart of the project is the Natura MSR-100, a small modular reactor with a trick up its sleeve. Namely, the MSR-100 integrates nuclear power generation with water desalination. The goal is to purify produced water from oil and gas operations, repurposing it for agriculture and other community needs. Yup, just what Texas needs now.

Simultaneously, a second MSR-100 deployment is underway at Texas A&M University’s RELLIS Campus as part of the broader Energy Proving Ground initiative. This project will demonstrate how commercial-ready small modular reactors (SMRs) can supply clean, stable power to the ERCOT grid — a major step forward in Texas’ efforts to modernize its energy infrastructure.

Both projects will showcase the MSR-100’s unique advantages. The reactor’s liquid-fueled design reduces long-lived waste. Meanwhile, its high-temperature operation (over 600°C) enables efficient electricity generation and supports industrial applications like desalination. 

Oh, and let’s not forget about safety, which has long been the biggest obstacle for nuclear reactors. At least in the public’s eye, that is. To that end, Natura Resources’ MSR-100 operates at low pressure with passive safety features, offering an inherently safer alternative to conventional nuclear systems.

The dual deployments align closely with Governor Greg Abbott’s recent State of the State address, where he emphasized that “It is time for Texas to lead the nuclear power renaissance in the United States.” The sentiment is echoed in legislative backing, with Senator Charles Perry and Representative Cody Harris both praising Natura’s approach to combining energy production with sustainable water solutions.

As expected, these projects should also drive local economic development. The nuclear sites will be primed to power energy-hungry industries like data centers and advanced manufacturing, while also opening new jobs.

Ashton Henning