Four Nuclear Companies Selected For High-Speed Project Development

After thewild successexperienced by multiple companies under the Department of Energy'sReactor PilotProgram (RPP) andFuel LinePilot Program (FLPP),four new fuel chain and reactor development companieshave beenselectedunder the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad (NELP).

JUST IN:@Energy’s@GovNuclear&@NRICnuclearannounced the first developers selected for the newly established Nuclear Energy Launch Pad.⚛️The initiative helps private#nucleardevelopers move their technologies from concept to commercial deployment.https://t.co/j3rQ0ngPSj

The NELP is thecombined successorprogram to the RPP and the FLPP. The program provides “streamlined pathways for developers wanting to demonstrate advanced nuclear energy technologies andaccelerate commercial deployment”.

Some of the reactor developers under the RPP have gone from chalkboard tofully constructed microreactorspreparing for going critical injust over a few months, leading to multiple other companies begging for ways to also harness the DOE’s lightning track.

Four companies were selected under the initial round of NELP participants: General Matter, Radiant Nuclear, Deployable Energy, and NuCube Energy. NuCube is entering the program in partnership with Idaho State University.

General Matter is the only non-reactor developer in the program. They are working to build out new uranium enrichment capacity in the country, amid the United States's current reliance onimports from countries like Russia and domestic production controlled by European nations.

Radiant Nuclear is currently progressing a project under the RPP with this new effort under the NELP likely building on the project. After Radiant’s testing is done at the INL DOME, they will likely transition to a different location, either at INL or another DOE-controlled area, to deploy the next iteration of their Kaleidos reactor or work on a yet-to-be-announced design.

Deployable Energy and NuCube Energy are some of the newer entries into the reactor development startup space. Both companies are working on microreactor designs for remote applications, military applications, and potential use for critical loads, including data centers.

Deployable’s design is theUnity Nuclear Battery, a 1 MW high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. NuCube has yet to provide a lot of details as to what their "Deccacell" project is, but a previous filing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission indicates it may be a heat pipe design similar to designs from Antares Nuclear and Westinghouse.

Source: ZeroHedge News