National Reactor Innovation Center
The NRIC team is committed to tackling the necessary tasks and challenges to identify and fill gaps that hinder advancing nuclear energy. This includes engaging with regulators and stakeholders and enhancing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory infrastructure and capabilities.
U.S. Department of Energy meets President Trump’s goals, delivers third advanced reactor criticality
As part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative, Deployable Energy’s demonstration reactor, Unity, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory. Unity, which achieved criticality late yesterday, is the third DOE-authorized advanced reactor to go critical by the July 4th deadline set by President Trump in his May 2025 executive order. This criticality marks DOE’s fulfillment of a precedent-setting directive to reignite nuclear energy innovation in the United States.
Centrus, Oklo HALEU agreement to support reactor deployment
US enrichment company Centrus is to supply Oklo with high-assay low-enriched uranium to power up to five Aurora powerhouses for multiple years, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
In a first for advanced nuclear: Siemens Energy turbine package advances for Oklo’s Aurora-INL
The steam turbine and generator package for Oklo’s first Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL)—a pioneering application of a commercially established industrial turbine platform at the heart of a first-of-a-kind advanced reactor’s conventional island—is in active production at Siemens Energy’s facilities in Görlitz and Erfurt, Germany.
Department of Energy celebrates second advanced reactor achieving criticality
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) celebrated another historic milestone in America’s nuclear renaissance. DOE Reactor Pilot Program participant Valar Atomics’ advanced reactor design, Ward 250, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration. The experiment took place at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Emery County, Utah, and marks the first DOE authorized reactor built outside of a national laboratory.
Deployable Energy receives final safety approval ahead of criticality
Deployable Energy announced approval of its Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) by the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this month, representing another regulatory milestone before proceeding to criticality.
Oklo secures DOE PDSA approval
Oklo announced that the Department of Energy’s Idaho Operations Office had approved the preliminary documented safety analysis (PDSA) for the company’s first deployment of its Aurora Powerhouse, which is currently under construction at Idaho National Laboratory.