Ahead of the Department of Energy’s July 4th deadline for its Reactor Pilot Program, two energy startups have reached an important milestone by achieving criticality with first-of-a-kind reactor prototypes. Criticality — when the reactor achieves a self-sustaining fission chain reaction — officially signifies the viability of these new nuclear reactors and opens the door for the next generation of nuclear energy projects.
Thanks to investments made during the Biden administration in expanding and modernizing our nuclear fleet with labor protections attached, the U.S. Department of Energy proposed this pilot program to grow our nation’s fleet of small modular reactors (SMRs). Our Department remains engaged with both the DOE and end users in the industry to ensure the future of American nuclear energy is UA-built.