A former munitions depot in Kansas is set to host an unusual nuclear energy project. Energy startup Deep Fission has signed a major supply deal with the Great Plains Development Authority. The firm plans to provide up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity to the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons.
The project eliminates traditional above-ground reactor domes. Instead, engineers plan to install reactors in boreholes about one mile beneath the surface.
The agreement turns an earlier letter of intent into a binding commercial contract. Local officials hope guaranteed, low-carbon power will attract heavy industry to the 14,000-acre site.
“Dependable, affordable power is what draws employers to Southeast Kansas, and it’s what the companies we’re talking to are asking for,” said Brad Reams, director of the park. “Deep Fission’s Gravity reactor is designed to provide firm, carbon-free electricity right here at the park, and this agreement gives us a long-term energy plan to offer.”
Using a proprietary design
The project uses Deep Fission’s proprietary design, named the Gravity reactor. In basic terms, it is a pressurized water reactor. It runs on standard low-enriched uranium fuel, just like commercial plants operating worldwide.
The critical difference is its working environment. Traditional reactors use massive concrete containment domes and pressurizer vessels that keep the cooling water under intense pressure.
Deep Fission replaces those mechanical systems with natural geology. The reactor sits inside a narrow, water-filled shaft deep underground. At a depth of one mile, the weight of the water column creates intense pressure. This natural hydrostatic pressure keeps the coolant water liquid at high temperatures.
At the same time, the surrounding bedrock acts as an immense radiation shield. The surrounding rock and water also absorb heat and provide passive emergency cooling.
The company says this layout removes the need for large surface structures. By using standard commercial drilling rigs, Deep Fission aims to lower building costs and speed up deployment.
Testing for commercial rollout
Field trials have already started. In September, crews lowered a full-scale 20-foot canister 100 feet down a test borehole. The team aligned the unit at depth and hauled it back up to test the deployment equipment before attempting deeper drilling.
Parsons began work under a Department of Energy pilot initiative. With the supply contract signed, the project now moves toward commercial delivery.
Phase one targets 150 megawatts. Once licensed and operational, Deep Fission plans to start commercial operations by September 30, 2028. After that, capacity will scale up in steps to match local demand, eventually reaching 2,000 megawatts.
The local authority will purchase power to meet the energy needs of its commercial tenants. It also has the right to enter into purchase agreements directly with individual businesses. The contract carries no minimum purchase quota for the park authority.
“This agreement turns a shared vision into a binding commitment,” concluded Liz Muller, chief executive of Deep Fission. “Our approach is to bring firm power directly to where it’s needed.”