Lightbridge Corporation received a Notice of Allowance from the European Patent Office on April 15 2026 for its European Patent Application No. 22777419.7, titled “Multi‑Zone Fuel Element.” The allowance protects a proprietary fuel‑element design that features multiple radial zones with variable thicknesses along the axial direction, enabling precise control of neutron flux distribution during reactor operation.
The patent covers fuel elements manufactured via additive manufacturing (3D printing), a process that allows the creation of complex multi‑material zone architectures that are not achievable with conventional fuel fabrication techniques. The allowance extends protection across 39 contracting states, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other major European nuclear markets, giving Lightbridge a broad geographic moat for its advanced metallic fuel technology.
Strategically, the patent strengthens Lightbridge’s intellectual‑property position and differentiates it from established fuel suppliers. It positions the company for potential licensing or manufacturing partnerships and supports its long‑term goal of deploying advanced metallic fuel in existing light‑water reactors and new small‑modular reactor deployments. The allowance also reinforces Lightbridge’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, which has been instrumental in accelerating irradiation testing of the fuel design.
"Receiving this allowance from the European Patent Office is an important validation of the technical depth and novelty of Lightbridge Fuel™," said Seth Grae, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Europe is home to a significant installed base of nuclear generating capacity, and the countries and utilities advancing nuclear energy as part of their clean energy programs represent a natural market for Lightbridge Fuel." Grae added, "This patent ensures that the fuel element design at the heart of Lightbridge Fuel, with our precise multi‑zone architecture and variable radial zone configuration, is protected across those markets as we advance toward commercialization."
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