The filing initiates the pre-application process for the Enhanced CANDU 6, a 700-megawatt pressurized heavy-water reactor. Unlike conventional systems, this platform utilizes natural uranium and allows for online refueling, a distinct technical footprint that the company hopes will appeal to a U.S. energy grid currently strained by the infrastructure requirements of cloud computing and next-generation artificial intelligence.

With 34 units already operational globally, AtkinsRealis holds exclusive rights to the platform and is moving to capitalize on a tightening power supply. The company is currently engaged in active discussions with U.S. utility providers, state officials, and hyperscale data center operators to assess potential deployment sites. This move represents a strategic pivot for the engineering firm, aiming to integrate its Canadian-designed nuclear expertise into the American industrial landscape.