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.
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Test experimental reactors and gather data to support the transition toward commercial deployment.
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Advance nuclear technologies through streamlined technical and regulatory pathways from demonstration toward commercial deployment.
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Meet the NRIC leaders and technical experts supporting advanced nuclear technology development and deployment.
Standard Nuclear Announces Fuel Supply Agreement with Antares Nuclear, Inc.
Standard Nuclear (NYSE: STDN) ("Standard Nuclear" or the "Company"), a reactor-agnostic producer of TRISO nuclear fuel and the only U.S. company with industrial-scale TRISO fuel fabrication facilities, today announced the execution of a binding fuel supply agreement ("FSA") for supply of TRISO fuel with Antares Nuclear, Inc. ("Antares"), a nuclear fission energy company developing microreactors for defense and space applications.
Army reaches agreement with private industry for nuclear micro-reactors
The Department of the Army is announcing today that the Janus Program has selected five nuclear energy vendors, and five initial locations.
In partnership with the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU), the Army is awarding up to a combined $2.2 billion to own, construct, and operate nuclear microreactors on military installations. These vendors will deliver safe, secure, and reliable nuclear power, strengthening the Army’s ability to project power globally, while supporting the revitalization of American industrial capacity and technological leadership. With the private sector funding expected along with these government dollars, the Army expects more than 20 total nuclear microreactors will be built and operated across Department of War installations.
NRIC selects new Nuclear Energy Launch Pad participants to boost nuclear energy
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) located at Idaho National Laboratory announced 13 new projects were selected to participate in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative.
US: Radiant sends portable nuclear reactor on a 1,000-mile road trip to prove readiness
Radiant’s 1-MWe Kaleidos microreactor began traveling from El Segundo, California, to Idaho National Laboratory on August 12. The reactor is being transported more than 1,000 miles on a trailer bed. At Idaho National Laboratory, Kaleidos will be installed inside the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments, or DOME, test bed.
Oklo receives U.S. Department of Energy startup authorization for Groves Reactor, clearing way for fuel loading and first criticality
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) startup authorization allows Oklo to load nuclear fuel, conduct startup testing, and proceed toward first criticality. In just over 10 months, Oklo progressed from groundbreaking to receiving DOE startup authorization for its first reactor at the Groves site.
Fourth advanced US reactor achieves criticality at INL, surpassing White House goal
Over the Independence Day weekend, another major nuclear milestone took place in Idaho. Aalo Atomics’ advanced reactor design, the Aalo-X, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The milestone officially surpasses the goal set by President Trump to have three advanced reactors achieve criticality before the United States’ 250th birthday.