Brenmiller Energy, a publicly traded thermal energy storage (TES) company, is positioning its bGen™ system as a critical enabler for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, addressing key limitations of nuclear power. According to CEO Avi Brenmiller, the bGen™ system can act as a thermal buffer, storing clean heat from SMRs and releasing it on demand, thereby bridging the gap between steady-state nuclear output and fluctuating grid requirements.

For decades, nuclear energy has faced challenges related to operational rigidity and the mismatch between its constant output and a grid increasingly shaped by real-time demand from intermittent renewables. As governments invest hundreds of millions in SMRs, the need for flexibility, dispatchability, and load-following capabilities becomes paramount. Brenmiller's bGen™ thermal storage system aims to provide this crucial buffer, allowing SMRs to operate at optimal set points while the bGen™ handles peaks, troughs, and timing mismatches.

The bGen™ system, already commercially deployed in four countries, is being adapted with a new configuration specifically engineered for SMRs and high-resilience industrial applications. This adaptation leverages the system's high thermal mass, passive heat absorption, built-in heat exchanger, and compatibility with nuclear loops. These features not only support load following and real-time grid balancing but also enhance safety by aiding decay heat removal and mitigating thermal transients, which can otherwise stress reactor materials.

Beyond operational flexibility, TES integration can significantly improve the safety profile of nuclear systems, a critical factor for regulatory acceptance. By absorbing decay heat, the bGen™ system supports safer shutdown procedures. Economically, TES enables nuclear operators to avoid reactor oversizing, reduce the risk of load rejection, and improve capacity factor economics. This allows for more efficient SMR sizing and opens new revenue streams, such as selling heat as a service to industrial clients or enabling intermittent large-scale hydrogen production without idling reactors.

With the SMR market projected to grow at a 30% CAGR to $72 billion by 2033, Brenmiller believes its technology is aligned with the global resurgence in nuclear investment driven by demands for cleaner computing, AI infrastructure, and industrial decarbonization. The company emphasizes that its commercially ready, modular, and fuel-agnostic bGen™ system offers a practical solution to make nuclear power not just clean, but also agile, profitable, and relevant in a world demanding both sustainability and responsiveness for industrial heat, which accounts for over 25% of global final energy consumption.