US power utilities Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company are collaborating with X-energy to explore deploying X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR) in Kentucky to meet growing energy demand across the state.

The companies said they have begun early project feasibility activities and will explore opportunities for SMR deployments to support long-term grid reliability across the state, and large load customers including data centres.

X-energy said the collaboration follows recent significant interest in nuclear energy in the state as a reliable option for baseload power generation, designed to be available at any time and in all conditions.