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Nuclear energy

DOE Unveils 10 Companies Racing to Bring Test Reactors Online by 2026 to Meet Trump's Deadline

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 10 companies to bring test reactors online by 2026, leveraging a new DOE pathway that allows reactor authorization outside of national labs. This initiative is a key component of President Trump's executive orders on nuclear energy, which aim to streamline nuclear reactor testing and accelerate commercial licensing activities. The companies selected for this pilot program will use their own money and sites to construct, operate, and achieve criticality of at least three test reactors using the DOE authorization process.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 10 companies selected for the Reactor Pilot Program are: Aalo Atomics, Antares Nuclear, Atomic Alchemy, Deep Fission, Last Energy, Natura Resources, Oklo, Radiant Industries, Terrestrial Energy, and Valar Atomics.
  • The goal of the program is to achieve criticality of at least three test reactors by July 4, 2026, using the DOE authorization process.
  • The selected companies will use their own funding and sites to construct, operate, and decommission their test reactors.
  • The pilot program is designed to foster research and development of nuclear reactors and not to demonstrate reactors for commercial suitability.
  • Some of the companies are already working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to license their reactor designs, while others are in preapplication activities with the NRC.
  • The Reactor Pilot Program offers a "fast-tracked approach" to enable future commercial licensing activities for potential applicants.

Statistics:

  • 10 companies have been selected for the Reactor Pilot Program.
  • The goal is to achieve criticality of at least three test reactors by July 4, 2026.
  • The selected companies will use their own funding and sites to construct, operate, and decommission their test reactors.
  • The pal program is designed to foster research and development of nuclear reactors.
  • Total funding for the pilot program is not specified.
  • 5 of the companies are already working with the NRC to license their reactor designs, while 5 are in preapplication activities.

Companies' Brief Overview:

  • Aalo Atomics (Austin, Texas): Pursuing the development of the 10-MWe sodium-cooled Aalo-1.
  • Antares Nuclear (Los Angeles, Calif.): Pursuing the 500-kW sodium heat pipe-cooled R1 microreactor.
  • Atomic Alchemy (Idaho Falls, Idaho): Pursuing the development of the 15-MWt light water Versatile Isotope Production Reactor (VIPR).
  • Deep Fission (Berkley, Calif.): Pursuing the 15-MWe Deep Fission Borehole Reactor-1.
  • Last Energy (Washington D.C.): Pursuing the 20-MWe PWR-20.
  • Natura Resources (Abilene, Texas): Pursuing the design of both commercial and research molten salt reactors.
  • Oklo (Santa Clara, Calif.): Pursuing the Aurora powerhouse, a 75-MWe liquid metal-cooled, metal-fueled fast reactor.
  • Radiant Industries (El Segundo, Calif.): Pursuing the 1-MWe, helium-cooled Kaleidos reactor.
  • Terrestrial Energy (Charlotte, N.C.): Pursuing a 195-MWe integral molten salt reactor.
  • Valar Atomics (El Segundo, Calif.): Pursuing a helium-cooled, TRISO-fueled, high-temperature gas reactor.

Sources:

  • American Nuclear Society
  • US Department of Energy press release
  • Executive Order 14301: "Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy"
  • Request for Applications (RFA) for the Reactor Pilot Program
  • American Nuclear Society expert advisory group review of the executive orders released May 23
  • Defense Innovation Unit's Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program
  • US Air Force announcement of a notice of intent to award a contract to Oklo
  • Terrestrial Energy MOU with EnergySolutions
  • Abilene Christian University and Natura Resources' 1-MWt MSRR project

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