The Department of Defense (DoD) has officially begun construction on Project Pele, a transportable nuclear reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The initiative announced on Tuesday, represents a significant step toward developing the first-ever Generation IV nuclear reactor capable of generating electricity in the United States. The project is led by the DoD’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and aims to demonstrate the potential of mobile microreactors for military and civilian applications.
Project Pele is designed to be a mobile, high-temperature gas reactor using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel, with the goal of delivering a reliable, carbon-free power source. The prototype reactor is expected to generate between 1 and 5 megawatts of electrical power (MWe) for at least three years of full operation. If successful, the project could provide a resilient and transportable energy solution for remote military operations and serve as a model for commercial applications.
The project was launched in 2019 and aims to develop, build, and demonstrate a prototype within five years. Manufacturing of the reactor is being carried out by BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, with assembly expected to begin in February 2025. By 2026, the fully assembled reactor will be transported to INL, where it will undergo testing and evaluation.
The reactor will be transported in four 20-foot shipping containers and will be positioned within a concrete shield structure at INL’s Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex. Once it arrives at the site, the reactor will be connected to INL’s specialized electric microgrid, and initial testing is expected to begin after a comprehensive safety review. If successful, the demonstration will establish Project Pele as a pioneering example of advanced nuclear technology.
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