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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DOME
Test experimental reactors and gather data to support the transition toward commercial deployment.
Launch Pad
Advance nuclear technologies through streamlined technical and regulatory pathways from demonstration toward commercial deployment.
NRIC Team
Meet the NRIC leaders and technical experts supporting advanced nuclear technology development and deployment.
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.
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.
Aalo Atomics achieves criticality on July 4
Executive Order 14301 set an ambitious goal for at least three test reactors to achieve criticality by July 4. Two private companies participating in the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program—Antares and Valar Atomics—reached this stage earlier in June, and Deployable Energy—participating in the DOE's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad—became the third last week.
In the last few weeks, reports indicated that Aalo would be next, reaching criticality at Idaho National Laboratory with a low-enriched uranium–fueled, sodium-cooled reactor on or near the target date set forth by President Trump’s EO 14301. In the early hours of July 4, Aalo’s critical test reactor—a full-scale zero-power version of its planned 10-MWe Aalo-X—did just that, becoming the fourth DOE-authorized reactor to hit the milestone.
Deployable Energy achieves criticality at INL ahead of deadline
Deployable Energy’s demonstration microreactor Unity achieved initial criticality at Idaho National Laboratory on June 30 just before midnight. The Department of Energy thus hit its goal of seeing at least three advanced nuclear reactor concepts achieve criticality by the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Department of Energy celebrates fourth criticality ahead of July 4th goal
The U.S. Department of Energy celebrates yet another win for the American nuclear energy renaissance. Early Saturday, as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program, Aalo Atomics’ test reactor, Aalo-X, successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration. The experiment took place at Idaho National Laboratory and is the fourth DOE-authorized advanced reactor to achieve the criticality milestone, exceeding the July 4th goal outlined by President Trump in his May 2025 executive order.