EOS enlists Philippine partners for “new era of nuclear science”
Seated from left: EōS Organization chemical engineer Ian Paolo Azusano, EōS lawyer Dennis Añover, EōS CEO Aaron Green, US Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Jessica Simon, Philippine-American Education Foundation Executive Director Julio Amador III and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga. Standing: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ann Ganzer, Ambassador MaryKay Carlson. (Photo by Jordeene B. Lagare)
MANILA, Philippines — American energy solutions provider EOS Organization seeks to advance nuclear energy development in the Philippines by bringing multiple educational and research institutions into the loop.
EOS signed on Friday separate memoranda of understanding with Fulbright Philippines, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
For PNRI, it agreed to provide support through the pioneering gigasite model of American startup Valar Atomics.
A P192-million grant to the Philippine Nuclear Science Foundation (PNSF) is also meant to boost the research and development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said the signing of these agreements marks the first time that American private sector entities have committed to the local nuclear sector following last year’s signing of a nuclear energy pact between the Philippines and the US.
SMR deployment
Alongside Valar Atomics and PNRI, EOS plans to deploy advanced nuclear technologies such as nuclear gigasites capable of housing thousands of SMRs.
SMR is an advanced nuclear reactor with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
These reactors utilize advanced cooling systems and modular designs, “reducing the risk of accidents while enabling faster, cost-effective deployment,” the US Embassy said in a statement on Friday.
READ: Southeast Asia looks to nuclear power to supercharge energy transition
“By investing in educational pathways, we are ensuring that Filipino students are at the forefront of nuclear innovation,” said Aaron Green, CEO of EOS Organization. “Together, with Fulbright and inspired by Valar’s technological leadership, we are laying the groundwork for a transformative era in energy security.”
Based in California, EOS implements energy generation, efficiency and storage projects. According to its website, it helps governments, state-sponsored entities and private companies achieve their sustainability and climate targets. It provides a platform to develop sustainability-driven developments across energy, water, food, waste and infrastructure sectors.
On the other hand, Valar Atomics builds grid-independent products: hydrogen, data center power, heavy industrial power and clean hydrocarbon fuels.
READ: DOE developing ‘transition financing’ measures for nuclear deployment
Capacity-building
With these partnerships, EOS hopes to expand local expertise and technical capacity as well as facilitate “cutting-edge” research and testing of advanced nuclear technologies. It also aims to support national energy security, economic growth and climate resilience goals.
The project includes the world’s first coordinated research project contract for an advanced reactor, with test-scale reactors to be piloted nationwide.
This will supplement the grant received by the PNSF, reinforcing the research and development of SMR technologies.
For Fulbright Philippines, EOS allocated up to $400,000 or around P22.9 million. This is to facilitate exchange programs that provide Filipino students access to American institutions for specialized nuclear science and engineering training. It will also fund fellowships, training programs and educational initiatives focused on nuclear energy.
Julio Amador III, Fulbright Executive Director, hailed this as the beginning of a “journey toward economic security for both the United States and the Philippines.”
“Banking on US expertise in civil nuclear energy and the Fulbright program, the partnership also highlights the importance of private sector investment in workforce development. An energy secure Philippines makes it an even more important partner in making the U.S. more prosperous and secure,” Amador said.
Valar Atomics Research Institute President Kip Mock, EōS CEO Aaron Green, MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan. Photo by Jordeene B. Lagare
On the other hand, the partnership with MSU-IIT will center on developing nuclear engineering curricula to build a skilled workforce for the nuclear sector. The educational institution will also integrate its academic programs with PNRI’s coordinated research project.
“We’re doing much more than just forming a partnership; we’re laying down the stepping stones to a new era of nuclear science and engineering education here in the Philippines. With this MOU, MSU-IIT gets to offer these specialized curricular programs and prepare our students to be at the forefront of nuclear technology,” said MSU Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan.
‘Hyperdrive’
“The U.S.-Philippine relationship is ’on hyperdrive,’ and nowhere is that more evident than in our shared focus on civil nuclear energy,” Clarkson said in her speech.
The breakthrough “123 agreement” signed by the Philippines and the United States in July 2024 provides a legal framework enabling American companies to export nuclear material, equipment and components.
READ: PH, US sign landmark ‘123 agreement’ on nuclear energy
“Spurred by that agreement, numerous US firms have begun working with partners to invest in the Philippines’ nuclear energy sector,” the envoy added. “Building a civil nuclear industry requires a skilled workforce to bring that technology to life and maintain it safely.”
