USA, Kansas, Parsons: Construction has started on a groundbreaking underground nuclear power plant in Parsons, Kansas, as Deep Fission moves forward with its plan to place small reactors one mile beneath the surface. The project is taking shape at the Great Plains Industrial Park, a former site of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, in a bid to attract energy-intensive data centres while keeping electricity costs reasonable for local residents.
Liz Muller, CEO of Deep Fission, told NPR affiliate KCUR that the plant will use minimal water, addressing a common concern about nuclear and data centre operations. The company has partnered with Endeavor, the parent of Edge, which produces waterless data centres, to further reduce water usage. Any radioactive waste generated will remain underground, safely contained within billions of tons of rock.
Founded in 2023 by Muller and her father, physicist Rich Muller, Deep Fission’s concept involves drilling 76 cm (30 inch) wide, 1.6 km (1 mile) deep holes and placing small nuclear reactors at the base. Water introduced into the hole turns to steam, rises to drive turbines, and then cools and returns for reuse, creating a closed-loop system.
In a press release, the company highlighted Parsons as a strategic location with potential to expand the industrial park for decades. The initiative promises a novel approach to clean, secure, and efficient power generation, potentially reshaping energy options for the region while supporting the development of new data centres.
Deep Fission’s underground design aims to combine safety, low environmental impact, and long-term scalability, signalling a new direction in small-scale nuclear energy.
Source: OK Energy Today
