Deep Fission has secured non-binding agreements that could support up to 18.5 gigawatts of future nuclear generation, signaling growing interest in its underground reactor concept from data center developers, industrial operators, and infrastructure partners.

The advanced nuclear company said it signed letters of intent with data centers, co-developers, industrial parks, and strategic partners that may eventually use electricity from its planned Gravity Nuclear Reactor system. The announcement arrives only weeks after Deep Fission priced its initial public offering, giving the company fresh momentum as it pushes its first commercial project forward.

Data center demand grows

Artificial intelligence and cloud computing have intensified the search for reliable, around-the-clock power sources, putting advanced nuclear technologies in the spotlight. Deep Fission believes its approach can meet that demand by placing small modular pressurized water reactors roughly one mile below ground.

Chief executive and co-founder Liz Muller said the expanding pipeline reflects strong interest in the company’s deployment model. “Data center developers and other industrial partners need a solution that can be deployed quickly and then scaled rapidly,” Muller said. She added that the Gravity Nuclear Reactor is designed to meet those requirements.

The agreements, however, stop well short of firm power purchase commitments. They do not require project financing, facility construction, exclusive partnerships, or deployment of a specific number of reactors. Either side can end the arrangements without penalties.

Kansas project advances

Deep Fission is developing its first reactor project at Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, Kansas, through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program. Engineers have already drilled the first data acquisition borehole to approximately 6,000 feet, providing information that will guide the next phase of development. The company now plans to demonstrate commercial-scale borehole drilling before attempting deployment of a prototype reactor underground.

Unlike conventional small modular reactor designs that sit above ground, Deep Fission’s concept places the reactor deep inside a narrow borehole. The company argues that the approach could reduce land requirements and simplify certain safety and security challenges, although it still faces extensive testing and regulatory review.

Regulatory path ahead

Commercial deployment remains several steps away. Deep Fission expects to apply for a commercial license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the first half of 2027, provided technical development stays on schedule and financing remains available. Future projects will also depend on successful prototype testing, regulatory approvals, construction milestones, and definitive customer agreements before any revenue-generating power plants come online.

Investor interest in the company has already picked up. Last month, Deep Fission announced the pricing of its public offering of common stock, marking its debut in the public markets and providing capital to advance its underground nuclear technology.

Although the newly announced 18.5 GW pipeline represents potential demand rather than guaranteed projects, it offers an early indication that large electricity consumers are exploring unconventional nuclear designs as they prepare for a future shaped by AI infrastructure, expanding data centers, and rising industrial power needs.

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