Programmes and agreements / prg-us-lgeku-xenergy-xe100-kentucky

LG&E and KU (PPL) and X-energy collaboration to explore Xe-100 SMR deployment in Kentucky

PPL's utilities LG&E and KU and X-energy announced in April 2026 that they are collaborating to explore deploying Xe-100 SMRs in Kentucky and have begun early project feasibility activities. This follows PPL's 2024 GAIN-funded feasibility work with X-energy, after an earlier study found the Ghent site suitable for an SMR plant. No site has been chosen and no order or licence application is recorded.

Not a deployment project. SMR plans, agreements, studies and government programmes that are not (yet) a single deployment project. They are listed separately and are never counted as projects or reactors.

Type

Feasibility or siting study

Countries concerned

United States

Region named by the sources

Kentucky

Participants and roles

• Utility: Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E)
• Utility: Kentucky Utilities Company (KU)
• Other participant: PPL Corporation
• Developer or vendor: X-energy

Designs named

Xe-100

Scale as stated

Not stated by the sources

Announced or first reported

30 Apr 2026

Status

Active
Early project feasibility activities, no site, unit count or licence application. Builds on a 2024 GAIN/X-energy feasibility phase after an earlier Ghent site study.

Confidence

medium

Last checked

2026-10-14 (record review date, not proof of current activity)

Related deployment projects

• No related deployment project is recorded here.

Sources

• LG&E and KU collaborate with X-energy to explore nuclear energy (company_primary, published 30 Apr 2026, accessed 2026-10-14)
• PPL and subsidiaries LG&E and KU expand collaboration with U.S. Department of Energy initiative to conduct nuclear feasibility study (company_primary, published 26 Jun 2024, accessed 2026-10-14)