The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has signed an agreement with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to study American small modular reactor technology as Bangkok considers its first nuclear power project.
The feasibility study will examine U.S. SMR designs that would generate about 600 megawatts, enough for hundreds of thousands of homes. Officials said Thailand’s growing economy is raising demand for steady power, and the government has listed SMRs in its long-term electricity plan.
“For the United States, this partnership advances our commitment to American innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy. It is part of America’s nuclear renaissance – an era of renewed innovation and investment that is creating new opportunities to deploy advanced technologies at home and around the world,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Deputy Director. “It reflects a broader foreign policy priority: working with trusted partners to expand access to reliable energy technologies while strengthening energy security across the Indo-Pacific.”
The vendor-neutral study will look at sites, costs and regulatory steps. Reactor designs under review come from GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse and X-Energy. USTDA said the findings could open a path for U.S. firms to help build Thailand’s civil nuclear infrastructure if the country proceeds.
USTDA-funded work is carried out by U.S. companies. The request for proposals will be posted at www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
Agency officials said SMR deployment, if approved, could add grid resilience, support industry and place Thailand among regional users of advanced nuclear technology. The grant is framed as an early planning step, not a construction contract.
Dr. Narin Phoawanich, EGAT’s Governor, said: “This grant represents an important foundation for Thailand to evaluate the potential role of SMR technology in strengthening energy security and supporting a cleaner energy future. We highly value the opportunity to learn from American innovation, expertise and experience while advancing cooperation between our two countries.”
The agreement adds a nuclear track to a long U.S.-Thailand energy relationship and is meant to keep technical exchange going while Bangkok decides whether SMRs belong in its future mix.