SEOUL, South Korea — Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) has taken another major step in global nuclear expansion by securing the basic design contract for four large-scale nuclear reactors in Texas. The deal, signed with Fermi America, marks the beginning of a landmark energy project that integrates nuclear power, artificial intelligence (AI), and next-generation energy technologies.
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The agreement covers the basic design phase for a “complex energy and AI campus” near Amarillo, northern Texas—a site spanning approximately 21.19 million square meters. Under this contract, Hyundai E&C will handle site layout planning, cooling system reviews, and process and budget calculations. This stage forms the foundation of the project’s full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, which is expected to be finalized in early 2025.
The design phase does not yet include detailed specifications for core reactor equipment such as reactors and turbine-generators, but it sets critical parameters for subsequent development.
The project—titled the “Complex Energy and AI Campus”—represents one of the most ambitious private power infrastructure developments in the United States. Fermi America aims to establish an independent 11-gigawatt power grid that integrates four large reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), gas combined-cycle power plants, solar generation, and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
What makes the initiative especially forward-looking is its integration with a large-scale AI data center, which will draw stable, carbon-free power directly from the hybrid grid. As artificial intelligence applications increasingly demand enormous computing power, such energy infrastructure offers a sustainable solution to rising electricity loads in the AI and data processing industries.
Currently, the project is under review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for integrated licensing. While the regulatory review proceeds, Hyundai E&C will continue basic design and early construction planning in parallel, demonstrating the efficiency and agility of Korean engineering expertise in the U.S. energy market.
The deal reinforces Hyundai E&C’s global footprint in the expanding nuclear sector. Around the world, demand for nuclear power is resurging as nations look for carbon-neutral baseload power sources to balance renewables. South Korea, already recognized for its advanced nuclear technology and safety standards, is leveraging partnerships like this one to broaden its reach across North America and Europe.
A source from Hyundai Engineering & Construction emphasized the project’s significance:
“This contract is a significant achievement that demonstrates Hyundai Engineering & Construction’s position as a trusted nuclear power partner in the global energy market,” the source said, adding, “We will continue to explore practical ways to strengthen cooperation based on the close energy partnership between South Korea and the U.S.”
Hyundai E&C CEO Lee Han-woo and Fermi Nuclear CEO Mesut Uzman formalized the agreement at Hyundai E&C’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 24. A commemorative ceremony underscored both firms’ shared vision of building cleaner, AI-ready energy infrastructure.
The partnership aligns with U.S. initiatives to modernize energy generation while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. For Korea, it demonstrates the expanding role of its engineering and construction sector in strategic energy diplomacy.
Industry experts note that projects like this are shaping the future of integrated smart energy systems, where AI, renewable sources, and advanced nuclear power function in unison. The Texas campus could serve as a model for future “energy-intelligent” industrial zones, balancing sustainability with digital innovation.
By combining energy diversification, local job creation, and cross-border engineering expertise, Hyundai E&C’s entry into Texas reinforces a growing trend: the merging of clean energy infrastructure with digital technologies to power next-generation industries.
A core subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai E&C is a global leader in large-scale infrastructure, nuclear energy systems, and advanced power engineering, with active projects across Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
Fermi America is a U.S.-based energy developer specializing in nuclear and hybrid energy systems. The company focuses on large-scale, integrated power solutions that combine traditional and renewable sources for industrial and data-driven applications.
Originally reported by Kim Hwee-won in The Chosun.
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