US Department of Defense selects eight potential microreactor suppliers

Monday, 14 April 2025

The eight companies who can now receive Other Transaction awards under the programme are:

• Antares Nuclear, Inc

• BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC

• General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

• Kairos Power, LLC

• Oklo Inc

• Radiant Industries Incorporated

• Westinghouse Government Services

• X-Energy, LLC

The Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations programme was launched last year by the Defense Innovation Unit in collaboration with the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, with the goal of "working to design, license, build, and operate one or more microreactor nuclear power plants on military installations".

Andrew Higier, Energy Portfolio Director at the Defense Innovation Unit, said: "Projecting power abroad demands ensuring power at home and this programme aims to deliver that, ensuring that our defence leaders can remain focused on lethality. Microreactors on installations are a critical first step in delivering energy dominance to the Force. Tapping into the commercial sector’s rapid advancements in this area is critical due to the significant private investment in this space over the last few years. The US and the DoD (Department of Defense) must maintain the advantage and leverage the best of breed nuclear technology for our national security."

The Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations programme's objectives also include to "field a decentralised scalable microreactor system capable of producing enough electrical power to meet 100 percent of all critical loads" and "utilise the civil regulatory pathways of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to stimulate commercial nuclear microreactor technology development and the associated supply chains in the US".

Daniel Klippstein, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy and Environment, said: "Advanced nuclear power represents a transformative opportunity to bolster Army installation resilience and strengthen national security in an increasingly uncertain world. Advanced microreactor designs are smaller, safer, and more efficient than their predecessors. The Army’s partnership with, and investment in, the domestic nuclear industry will reduce reliance on foreign energy supplies and ensure uninterrupted power for the Army’s defence mission."

Idaho National Laboratory, which is also supporting the programme, defines a microreactor as "a small nuclear reactor that can operate as part of the electric grid, independently from the electric grid, or as part of a microgrid to generate up to 20 megawatts thermal energy that can be used to generate electricity and provide heat for industrial applications. Most of these small reactors are designed to be portable" and many of the proposed designs can be moved by truck.

They offer a combination of reliability and operational flexibility and will be designed to operate for years without refueling allowing the ability to generate power on a small scale in remote locations, it adds.