The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated the construction of Project Pele, a transportable nuclear reactor at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The reactor is part of a Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) initiative and is being manufactured by BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC, based in Lynchburg, Virginia. Assembly of the final reactor is expected to start in February 2025. The schedule plans for the fully-assembled reactor to be transported to INL in 2026, where it will become the first Generation IV nuclear reactor to generate electricity in the United States.
"We are thrilled to move beyond the era of PowerPoint advanced reactors," said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Project Pele program manager. "Our tight partnership with INL and the Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office is leading the way forward not just for manufacturing advanced reactors, but also for regulating them in an efficient and safe manner."
The prototype reactor facility is designed to be transported within four 20-foot shipping containers and tested at INL. The Project Pele team will construct a concrete shield structure at the test site next year to prepare for reactor placement in 2026.
Upon arriving at INL, the reactor will be transported by truck to the test site and positioned within the concrete shield structure. Piping and electrical wiring will connect the reactor to INL's specialized electric microgrid. Once the final safety review is completed, the Pele project team will proceed with the initial Test and Evaluation plan. If successful, transportable nuclear power could meet increasing demand for resilient, carbon-free energy capable of delivering reliable 24/7 power to mission-critical DoD operations in remote environments.
"The DoD has a long record of driving American innovation on strategic and critical technology," said Mr. Jay Dryer, SCO director. "Project Pele is a key initiative for improving DoD energy resilience and will also play a crucial role in advancing nuclear power technology for civilian applications."
Project Pele involves significant contributions from various government bodies including the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The contractor team led by BWXT Advanced Technologies includes Northrop Grumman, Rolls Royce Liberty Works, and Torch Technologies.
"For 75 years INL has been the home of nuclear innovation, and we are pleased to partner with the Department of Defense on this trailblazing demonstration," said Dr. John Wagner, INL director. "We anticipate Pele will be among the first of a new generation of advanced experimental reactors hosted here before the end of the decade."
