Department of Energy Approves Safety Design for Deep Fission's Underground Reactor in Kansas
The Department of Energy (DOE) has approved Deep Fission's Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for its Gravity reactor, a 15-megawatt pressurized water reactor intended to be placed a mile underground near Parsons, Kansas. This approval marks the first of four necessary steps in the DOE's authorization process. The reactor's design utilizes a mile of water above it as a containment measure, allowing the project to bypass a full environmental impact statement. This innovative approach could potentially transform the economics of nuclear power in the U.S. by reducing construction costs and regulatory hurdles. The approval is not for the reactor itself but for the plan to ensure its safety, setting the stage for further development and testing. 
