DOE fast tracks test reactor projects

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched President Trump’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, naming ten companies with 11 advanced reactor projects that DOE will initially work to move their technologies towards deployment. DOE will work with industry on these 11 projects, aiming to construct, operate, and achieve criticality of at least three test reactors using the DOE authorisation process by 4 July, 2026. DOE said the initial selections represent an important step toward streamlining nuclear reactor testing and unleashes a new pathway toward fast-tracking commercial licensing activities.

“President Trump’s Reactor Pilot Program is a call to action,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P Danly. “These companies aim to all safely achieve criticality by Independence Day, and DOE will do everything we can to support their efforts.”

DOE announced the Reactor Pilot Program in June, following President Trump’s Executive Order 14301, which reforms reactor testing at the Department. DOE issued a Request for Application (RFA) in June seeking applications for qualified test reactor construction and operation outside of the national laboratories using the DOE authorisation process. To date, pathways to reactor testing have been either through Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing or through the DOE for test or demonstrations on DOE land.

The goal of the Reactor Pilot Program is to expedite the testing of advanced reactor designs that will be authorised by DOE at sites located outside of the national laboratories. Seeking DOE authorisation provided under the Atomic Energy Act will help selected companies to unlock private funding and provide a fast-tracked approach to future commercial licensing activities.

The initially selected companies are: Aalo Atomics, Antares Nuclear, Atomic Alchemy (a subsidiary of Oklo), Deep Fission, Last Energy, Oklo (with two projects), Natura Resources, Radiant Industries, Terrestrial Energy, and Valar Atomics.

Each company will be responsible for all costs associated with designing, manufacturing, constructing, operating, and decommissioning their test reactors.

Some of the companies are already working with NRC to licence their designs. However, the DOE authorisation process allows companies to accelerate their plans. Reactors built under the programme “will not require Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing,” according to the RFA. “Nevertheless, DOE-approved reactor designs can and will be fast tracked for future NRC licensing.”

According to the RFA, applicants are on their own for funding the construction, testing, and decommissioning of a reactor, but DOE’s help will “unlock the next level of private funding” and “provide a fast track to an NRC licence, and hence, commercialisation for authorised reactor designs.”

Only the NRC has the authority to licence commercial nuclear power reactors, and the DOE has emphasised that the pilot program “is specifically designed to foster research and development of nuclear reactors and not demonstrate reactors for commercial suitability.”

Aalo Atomics is developing the 10 MWe sodium-cooled Aalo-1. In December 2024, Aalo and the DOE announced that they would build an experimental reactor at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Also in 2024, Aalo submitted a regulatory engagement plan to NRC for the reactor, with plans to submit a full licence application in 2026.

Antares Nuclear is developing the 500 kW sodium heat pipe-cooled R1 microreactor. While Antares has not yet engaged with the NRC, they received a DOE Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) voucher last year to work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The company was also selected by the Defense Innovation Unit for the Defense Department’s (DOD’s) Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations programme.

Atomic Alchemy is a radioisotope production company that is developing the development of the 15 MWt light water Versatile Isotope Production Reactor (VIPR). The company was acquired by Oklo in 2024.

Deep Fission is developing the 15 MWe Deep Fission Borehole Reactor-1. DFBR-1 is a pressurised water reactor that the company plans to build one mile underground via a 30-inch borehole. Deep Fission has received a GAIN voucher to work with INL and is currently engaged with NRC in pre-application activities for the licensing of DFBR-1.

Last Energy is developing the 20 MWe PWR-20 and has been invited by Texas A&M University to build advanced reactors on its RELLIS Campus. The company is also involved in a lawsuit by the State of that challenges NRC’s authority to licence SMRs. Last Energy is engaged in pre-application activities with the NRC for another site in Haskell, Texas.

Natura Resources is developing the design of both commercial and research molten salt reactors and maintains a close partnership with Abilene Christian University on the 1 MWt MSRR project, which was the first molten salt-fuelled reactor to receive a construction permit from the NRC. The company is in pre-application activities with NRC for its commercial reactor.

Oklo is developing the Aurora powerhouse, a 75 MWe liquid metal–cooled, metal-fuelled fast reactor. Oklo’s first reactor is being built at INL with plans to begin operation in 2027. Oklo is engaged in pre-application activities with NRC after the company’s previous application was denied in 2022.

Radiant Industries is developing the 1 MWe, helium-cooled Kaleidos reactor. It will be one of the first companies to test a reactor at INL’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility. Radiant is involved in pre application industries for the Kaleidos microreactor.

Terrestrial Energy is developing a 195 MWe integral molten salt reactor. It is invited to develop a reactor on the RELLIS Campus and has signed an MOU to collaborate on the siting and deployment of its reactors on EnergySolutions sites. The company is involved in pre-application activities with the NRC for its reactor.

Valar Atomics is pursuing a helium-cooled, TRISO-fuelled, high-temperature gas reactor. The company has yet to release significant details. It has not yet engaged with NRC and was involved in the lawsuit against the agency.