Air Force Selects Three Microreactors for Base Power

• Air Force Selects Three Microreactors for Base Power
• NRC Proposes a New Licensing Framework for Microreactors
• TerraPower Breaks Ground in Wyoming for 345 MW Advanced Reactor
• Rolls-Royce and Czech CEZ Ink Deal for Nuclear Reactors At Temelín
• Zeno Power Completes Final Design Review for Space Nuclear Battery
• Nuclear Fuel Validation Planned by Oklo, LANL and NVIDIA
• DOE Seeks to Partner with Private Sector for Spent Fuel Recycling

Air Force Selects Three Microreactors for Base Power

The Department of the Air Force, in conjunction with the Defense Innovation Unit, has selected three companies to potentially develop and operate a microreactor on a DAF installation, as part of the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) initiative.

The service announced on 04/08/26 that Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, and Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, were the first two sites chosen for the ANPI initiative. Additionally, the service has selected Joint Base San Antonio, TX, as the third potential location to site a nuclear microreactor under the ANPI initiative.

The selected companies have been paired with an Air Force installation, which the service chose as part of its approach to energy resilience, focused on aligning mission requirements and site-specific characteristics.

“The future of air and space dominance is powered by resilient energy,” said Michael Borders, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment.

“By integrating advanced nuclear technology, we are not just keeping the lights on; we are guaranteeing that our most critical national security missions will never be held at risk by a power outage. This is a pivotal moment for the Department of the Air Force.”

The ANPI initiative seeks to have at least one advanced nuclear reactor operating on at least one Air Force installation by 2030 or sooner. Next steps include siting and environmental analyses as part of the National Environmental Policy Act process.

This initiative is separate from the microreactor pilot at Eielson AFB, Alaska, which is a stand-alone effort focused on demonstrating the feasibility and operational benefits of a microreactor at a single installation.

All three selected firms are developers of advanced micro reactors. All three use HALEU TRISO fuel at enrichment levels as high as 19.5% U235. All three have reactor outlet temperaturs of betweem 650C and 750 C which presents significant materials science challenges to transfer the heat from the reactors to produce electrical power and thermal energy on site. (See Weight and Form Factors below)

The Three Selected Microreactors

• Buckley SFB, Colorado – Radiant Industries, Inc.

Radiant Kaleidos: This is a High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) using helium as the primary coolant. Because it uses gas cooling, it achieves a higher outlet temperature (750C), making it suitable for both electricity and high levels of industrial process heat. Once deployed, each Kaleidos unit will be capable of supplying 1MW of electricity over 5 years to support critical operations in remote locations.

• Malmstrom AFB, Montana – Westinghouse Government Services

eVinci microreactor: Functioning as a “nuclear battery,” the eVinci uses alkali metal heat pipes to transfer heat passively from the core to an open-air Brayton cycle. This eliminates the need for reactor coolant pumps and high-pressure vessels, operating at near-atmospheric pressure. eVinci can produce 5MWe with a 15MWth core design. The reactor core is designed to run for eight or more years before refueling.

• Joint Base San Antonio, Texas – Antares Nuclear, Inc.

Antares R1: The Antares microreactor is a 1.5 MWth, graphite moderated, sodium heat pipe-cooled microreactor. Designed primarily for rapid deployment and strategic infrastructure, this reactor utilizes sodium heat pipes and a nitrogen Brayton cycle. Its outlet temperature is optimized for high-efficiency power conversion in a very small footprint.

Are These Microreactors Really Transportable?

Claims by developers of microreactors that they are transportable in a fully assembled form need to be taken with grains of salt. For instance, earlier this year Valar Nuclear staged an elaborate publicity stunt by flying a mock up of its 5 MW microreacrtor from California to Hill AFB in Utah. The mockup had to be shipped in pieces using not one but three giant C-17 ‘Globemaster’ Air Force transport planes.

More to the point, claims by developers of microreactors that their creations are ‘fully transportable” by trucks and standard shipping containers don’t carry much weight in terms of credibilty. For instance, Radiant’s micro unit weighs 70 tons which is 30 tons more than the capacity of most state highway bridges to support them. Sooner or later the truck has to get off the interstate highway to make its delivery.

Transport by rail is also a limiting factor. A standard flatbed railcar can carry up to 233,000 pounds or 116 tons which is 46 tons more than the weight of the Radiant shipment. However, the standard width of a rail flatbed car, which has to fit through mountain tunnels and bridges, is 10’6″ which is an unforgiving 4 inches too short for the Radiant reactor.

The short answer is for Radiant and the other microreactor developers, shipping the reactor disassembled in transportable pieces is a path to success. For instance, the Westinghouse eVinci power plant is delivered in four-to-five truckload-sized modules. The core components of the eVinci are designed to fit within a footprint of approximately 40′ x 14′ x 14′ which is slightly larger than a standard ISO shipping container but still compatible with heavy-haul trucking, rail, and barges.

Was It a Real Test?

A real test of transporting a microreactor by air would require a real reactor including all parts and shielding. Fuel would likely travel separately, for security and safety reasons, and be loaded in the reactor after being assembled at its destination. For microreactor developers thinking of replicating the Valar experience, note that the open source information about the C-17 is that the cargo compartment is 88 feet long by 18 feet wide by 12 feet 4 inches high. The maximum payload of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds or 85.5 tons.

By comparison Radiant’s 1 MW microreactor reportedly weighs 70 tons or 140,000 pounds. Based on the dimensions posted on Radiant’s website, transportating the large 70 ton reactor, that is 11 ft high and 11 ft wide, in a single shipment will take only one C-17, not three, to fly the complete reactor to a military site. Power ratings matter beause they drive size and weight, and their numbers will determine the feasibility of delivering various microreactor designs by C-17 cargo aircraft.

Here is a review of the weights and form factors of the three microreactors chosen by the USAF to provide relaible power in support of tactical readiess at its military bases in the U.S.

Antares The estimated weight is approximately 10-to-15 tons for an integrated unit. The entire reactor system is designed to fit within a standard 20-foot ISO shipping container.Air Transport:

The R1 is specifically engineered for multi-unit deployment via heavy-lift aircraft. Antares claims a single C-17 Globemaster III can carry up to five R1 units (including microgrid equipment) in a single flight.

By keeping the weight in the “10-ton class,” Antares says the design allows the R1 to be moved by standard semi-trucks, cargo planes, and even heavy-lift helicopters (like the CH-47 Chinook or CH-53K King Stallion) without requiring specialized “oversize/overweight” permits in many jurisdictions.

Radiant The Kaleidos microreactor is engineered for rapid, “plug-and-play” deployment. The weight of the Radiant mircorector is reported to be 70 tons.This weight includes the reactor core, shielding, and the integrated power conversion system. While heavy, it is specifically calculated to remain within the transport limits of heavy-duty semi-trucks and strategic airlift (like the C-17 Globemaster). It would probably be shipped in sections rather than fully assembled.

Accoording to Radianrt, the “shipping container” form factor allows it to be delivered to a site, connected to a microgrid, and begin producing power within 48 hours. To keep the weight manageable for transport while ensuring safety, Radiant says it uses advanced shielding materials that minimize the “leakage” of radiation while the reactor is in transit or operation.

Westinghouse eVincimicroreactor The unit is designed as a “nuclear battery,” prioritizing transportability and a minimal onsite footprint. It is specifically engineered to be moved using existing global logistics infrastructure. The sealed reactor core/canister itself weighs approximately 15 tons When housed in its Reactor Transportation Cask (RTC)—the specialized Type B shipping container required for safety and radiation shielding during transit—the total weight of the primary module is approximately 30 to 40 metric tons.

The entire power plant is delivered in four-to-five truckload-sized modules.Main. The core components are designed to fit within a footprint of approximately 40′ x 14′ x 14′ which is slightly larger than a standard ISO shipping container but still compatible with heavy-haul trucking, rail, and barge. Westinghouse describes the physical reactor module as being “smaller than a school bus,” allowing it to be deployed to remote sites with limited infrastructure.

Will Any of These Microreactors Actually Meet the Military Needs for Reliable Power?

As there are, as yet, no formal contracts for any of these deals, costs are unknown. Any action to proceed with a contract between any of these developers and the military is contingent on any of these microreactors gettting an NRC license. Then and only then will the financial terms come into play.

Keep in mind that a lot of federal government activity related to promoting nuclear energy is, absent actual funding, aspirational driven by the four nuclear energy executive orders issued by the administration.

Not discussed by the military in this announcement is the question of how to prove that any of these micro units can provide 24×7 365/days/year for up to a decade or more. A military base commander, who has a focus on power to assure tactical readiness, needs ironclad certainty about that power.

The “move fast and break things” mentality of some startups is not going to cut it when it comes time for meeting the Air Force needs for power. Each of these microreactor developers have a lot of work ahead to prove that they can do what the military needs them to do.

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NRC Proposes a New Licensing Framework for Microreactors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced on 04/24/26 a groundbreaking proposed rule that enables the safe, rapid deployment of microreactors and other reactors with comparable risk profiles.

The proposed regulatory framework, Part 57, is a streamlined, risk-informed, and flexible licensing pathway that maintains strong protection of public health, safety, and security.

Developed to implement Executive Order 14300 and the ADVANCE Act, the proposal responds to the growing demand for innovative, smaller-scale reactors and is designed to support safe and efficient high-volume licensing. It recognizes the distinct safety profiles of microreactors compared to traditional nuclear plants.

“This regulatory framework for microreactors marks a major step toward modernizing the licensing process for advanced nuclear reactors,” Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. “Part 57 is designed to deploy microreactors with safety, scale, and speed.”

The NRC and industry expect to save $3.76–$11.84 billion (depending on discount rate), mainly by reducing exemption requests and streamlining reviews. The NRC projects accelerated licensing and deployment timelines of potentially 6–12 months for construction permits and operating licenses.

According to the press statement from the NRC, a few key features of the proposed Part 57 rule include:

• Requesting approval of fleets of identical reactors,
• Allowing appropriate use of alternative design standards and programs for novel reactor operation,
• Streamlining environmental reviews for projects with demonstrated minimal impacts, and
• Providing a pathway for limited construction prior to receiving an NRC permit.

  The new rule will likely affect the preapplication process as well as licensing applications, reviews, and approval/ The NRC guidance for pre-application engagements is found in Appendix A of the Interim Staff Guidance DANU-ISG-2022-05, “Review of Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Advanced Reactor Applications—Roadmap.” 

  It that provides a list of the recommended pre-application topics. While this guidance focuses on non-light water reactor technologies, the document, especially the environmental sections, generally applies to all reactor technologies.

  The Federal Register notice is slated for May 6, 2026; however, that date is subject to change. The NRC intends to hold a public meeting on the proposed rule soon. As such Part 57 is not yet available for use by applicants.

  What’s in the NRC Draft of Part 57?

  Here is a link to the NRC’s text of Part 57 (500 pages) prior to publication in the Federal Register. While the NRC does not expect any changes, the FR notice is the official record.

  For a quick summary of Part 57 see “Explaining 10 CFR Part 57 – a new pathway for microreactors,” by Sarah Gibboney, P.E.

  She writes, “10 CFR Part 57 isn’t yet published, but the NRC’s presentations and meeting notes released in 2025 reveal an ambitious rule aimed at right-sizing regulation for microreactors. It seeks to enable high-volume licensing through risk-informed, performance-based requirements, address unique aspects of factory-fabricated reactors (transportability, remote operation, automation) and integrate security and human-factors considerations from the beginning.” See also ML25192A037 (July 14 2025 slide deck)

  Elina Teplinsky, an attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in Washington, DC, writes on Linkedin on 04/24/26, “Part 57 is intended to operate alongside Part 53 by establishing a more streamlined pathway for reactors that meet defined low-risk criteria, with reduced information requirements and a narrower scope of NRC review.”

  Her post on Linkedin includes summary level list of key sections of the current NRC pre-Federal Register draft. She also lists key areas where the NRC is seeking input. They include;

  – Whether Part 57’s eligibility criteria, licensing approaches, and procedural requirements should be further streamlined or modified, including alignment with Part 53 and use of alternative licensing tools such as general licenses and early site permits.

  – How to address emerging issues such as transportable reactors, remote and autonomous operations, and appropriate use of risk-informed versus deterministic standards.

  – Whether existing regulatory frameworks could be adapted instead of establishing Part 57.

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TerraPower Breaks Ground in Wyoming for 345 MW Advanced Reactor

TerraPower announced the official start of construction in the remote high plains of far southwest Wyoming of its Kemmerer Unit 1. It is on track to be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant built in the United States.

Earlier this year the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Part 50 construction permit, Once the plant is built, TerraPower will need a Part 50 operating license from the NRC to put the plant in revenue service.

TerraPower is mobilizing a workforce of roughly 1,600 workers to begin plant construction, bringing the first Natrium reactor and energy storage system one step closer to fruition. Once operational, it is expected to employ approximately 250 full-time staff.

The plant features a 345-MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with an integrated molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost energy output to 500 MW of power when needed, equivalent to the amount of energy needed to power around 400,000 homes. The energy storage capability is designed to keep base output steady, ensuring constant reliability, and can quickly ramp up when demand peaks. It is the only advanced reactor design with this unique feature.

This first Natrium plant is being developed through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), a public-private partnership. When complete, the project will be the first utility-scale advanced nuclear power plant in the U.S. and Wyoming’s first-ever commercial nuclear generating station. The project has been under active development since TerraPower broke ground on the greenfield site in June 2024 and began construction on non-nuclear support facilities.

TerraPower is rapidly commercializing the Natrium technology; which includes an agreement with Meta for up to eight Natrium plants by 2035.

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Rolls-Royce and Czech CEZ Ink Deal for Nuclear Reactors At Temelín

(NucNet) UK reactor developer Rolls-Royce SMR and Czech state energy company CEZ Group have signed a contract that enables work to start on the eastern European nation’s first SMR program at the Temelín nuclear site in the southwest of the country. Rolls-Royce SMR and CEZ have embarked on a partnership to deploy up to 3 GW of electricity in the Czech Republic or about six of the 470 MW PWRs which technically aren’t SMRs based on the IAEA definition of a limit of 300 MW for this level of electrical generation capacity.

The signing of the early works contract follows a successful program of geological studies which will allow Rolls-Royce SMR and CEZ Group to jointly develop a site application for SMRs at Temelín this year.

No date was announced for a final investment decision on the construction of six of the 470 MW mid-size reactors. At a hypothetical cost of $9,000/kw in 2026, the three units would have a combined cost of $23.4 billion. Assuming the reactors are started in a staged process rather than one at a time., if the first unit broke ground in 2030, and each unit took four years to build, with starts two years apart, the third unit would be on the grid by 2038.

Under the early works contract, site-specific design work will begin, including preparations for consents, permitting and licensing, alongside preliminary infrastructure activities already underway at Temelín, which is home to one of CEZ’s operating commercial nuclear power stations.

CEZ chairman and chief executive officer Daniel Beneš said CEZ’s cooperation with Rolls-Royce SMR offers “a unique opportunity for growth and prosperity in the nuclear power industry, including through our participation in the technology’s development.”

He added the Czech Republic and Czech industry can use and further deepen its traditional nuclear know-how thanks to the project.

Beneš said the Czech Republic is counting on SMRs alongside large nuclear power plants and renewables. He said the contract between CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR will ensure the preparation of the design, technical and licensing documentation needed for permits for the construction of SMRs at Temelín.

Prague also aims to add two more large-scale reactors at Temelín, but that project has been delayed. Recent reports in the Czech Republic said the government will decide next year whether to build the new large-scale Temelín plants.

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Zeno Power Completes Final Design Review for Space Nuclear Battery

Zeno Power announced the successful completion of the Final Design Review (FDR) for its space nuclear battery, being developed under NASA’s Harmonia Radioisotope Power System for Artemis Tipping Point program. The milestone confirms the system design meets all performance requirements, delivers 3.5 times the originally specified power output, and advances the program into build and fabrication phases. The battery can produce up to 100 watts of power.

Zeno and partners will complete a terrestrial demonstration of the system in early 2027, advancing the technology toward flight qualification for lunar missions beginning in 2028.

“Completing Final Design Review for Harmonia is a critical milestone for NASA’s Artemis program,” said Lindsey Boles, Chief Product Officer of Zeno Power.

“Our design delivers the continuous power needed to transform lunar missions from two-week sprints into long-term operations. We’re building the power infrastructure that could enable a permanent Moon Base.”

Surviving the Lunar Night is Critical for Sustained Lunar Presence

In 2024, NASA and industry identified the inability of spacecraft to survive and operate through the lunar night as one of the most critical capability gaps for sustained lunar exploration. The lunar surface presents one of the most hostile environments in the solar system. During the two-week lunar night, temperatures plunge below -280°F, solar panels stop generating power, batteries drain, and electronics freeze.

Recent U.S. commercial lunar missions have faced this challenge firsthand. In 2024 and 2025, the United States made its return to the Moon with three commercial landers. Each completed its primary mission but lacked the thermal and power systems needed to survive the lunar night, ceasing operations within two weeks.

U.S. efforts to utilize lunar resources, such as water, metals, and helium-3, will require power and long-duration operations, making night survival essential. NASA recently announced that radioisotope power systems are part of the agency’s plan for establishing a sustained lunar presence and building a Moon Base, a goal that depends on solving the lunar night power challenge.

Nuclear Batteries Deliver Continuous Lunar Surface Power

Zeno is leading the Harmonia Radioisotope Power System for Artemis team to develop an RPS to power missions through the lunar night. The system will enable continuous lunar surface operations through the lunar night, providing the energy foundation for a new era of sustained exploration.

Supported by a 2023 NASA Tipping Point award, Harmonia is advancing an americium-241 heat source to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and Stirling Generator technology to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, while delivering transition plans for flight qualification.

The Harmonia team brings together leading space and technology partners including NASA’s Glenn Research Center, Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, Sunpower, and University of Dayton Research Institute.

Path to Demonstration and Flight Qualification

Zeno and partners are now working toward a terrestrial demonstration of an Electrically-heated Stirling Generator integrated with a Lunar Lander Simulator in early 2027. The demonstration will include electromagnetic interference testing, thermal vacuum testing to replicate lunar surface conditions, and vibration testing to simulate launch loads.

A successful demonstration will achieve TRL 6 for Zeno’s space nuclear battery which could support NASA and commercial missions in the latter part of the decade.

Beyond the initial NASA demonstration, the space nuclear battery is capable of integration with commercial lunar landers and surface systems, positioning Zeno to support the growing commercial lunar economy, enabling missions for a range of customers.

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Nuclear Fuel Validation Planned by Oklo, LANL and NVIDIA

• The agreement brings together advanced nuclear reactors, AI models, and national laboratory expertise to support critical nuclear infrastructure for the federal government’s Genesis Mission.

Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO), an advanced nuclear technology company, announced an agreement with NVIDIA, a leader in AI and accelerated computing, and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), to advance critical nuclear infrastructure, AI-enabled research, and nuclear fuel R&D at Los Alamos.

The collaboration is intended to combine advanced nuclear power, AI, digital twins, modeling, and simulation to support critical infrastructure development and accelerate the deployment of nuclear energy. By aligning Oklo’s advanced sodium-fast-reactor platform, NVIDIA AI infrastructure, and LANL’s world-leading expertise in materials science and nuclear fuels, the parties aim to lay the groundwork for a new class of mission-critical, high-assurance energy.

“This agreement brings together reactor deployment, high-performance compute, and world-class fuel and materials science expertise” said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte.

“We believe this will advance our plutonium-bearing fuel work on Oklo’s Pluto reactor, which was selected under DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, and help bring resilient power in support of the Genesis Mission.”

Initial focus areas include:

• Physics- and chemistry-based AI models, including trained inference models to support fuel validation and R&D for plutonium-bearing fuels
• Materials science and fabrication R&D for plutonium-bearing fuels
• Power generation, grid reliability, redundancy and stabilization studies in support of nuclear-powered AI factories at LANL
• Projects under the agreement include integrated full-stack solutions to support nuclear powered AI factories;
• AI development, including physics and chemistry trained AI models to support nuclear fuel R&D;
• Grid stabilization, reliability, and redundancy studies;
• Materials science efforts focused on plutonium-bearing fuel; and

Oklo’s Plan for a Nuclear Fuel Plant in Tennessee

In September 2025 Oklo announced a fuel recycling facility as First Phase of up to $1.68 Billion advanced fuel center in Tennessee.

The firm will organize an investment totaling up to $1.68 billion. The initial investment will be for the construction of a facility to recycle used nuclear fuel into fuel for fast reactors like Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse advanced reactor.

The recycling facility will recover usable fuel material from used nuclear fuel and fabricate it into fuel for advanced reactors. This process can reduce waste volumes for more economical, clean, and efficient disposal pathways.

The fuel recycling facility is the first phase of Oklo’s broader advanced fuel center, a multi-facility campus aimed at supporting recycling and fuel fabrication.

Oklo is also exploring opportunities with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle the utility’s used fuel at the new facility and to evaluate potential power sales from future Oklo powerhouses in the region to TVA.

Oklo has completed a licensing project plan for the fuel recycling facility with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is currently in pre-application engagement with the regulator’s staff.

The facility in Tennessee is expected to begin producing metal fuel for Aurora powerhouses by the early 2030s, following regulatory review and approvals.

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DOE Seeks to Partner with Private Sector for Spent Fuel Recycling

• DOE is not providing any financial support to firms that seek to participate in the program.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) and Office of Environmental Management (EM) issued a Request for Application (RFA) to advance the nation’s capabilities in recycling used nuclear fuel.

The government apparently wants a free ride from industry to rid the agency of the burden of seeking a disposition pathway for spent nuclear fuel from defense sources.

DOE is not providing any financial support for firms that seek to participate in the program. (emphasis added) This is seems on its face to be a deal breaker. Sooner or later firms that want to take a crack at recovering usable fissile materials from spent fuel will lobby the administration and congress for the money to pay them to do this work.

Past government experience with this kind of work is not a confidence builder in the current era. During the Obama administration, government funded contractors ran up multi-billion dollar invoices as part of a project to build a plant to reprocess weapons grade plutonium at the Savannah River Site and turn it into commercial (MOX) nuclear fuel for use in PWR type reactors. In February 2016 the Obama adminstration shut down construction due to runaway costs leaving behind a partially built white elephant in South Carolina.

Work started on the project in 2007, with a 2016 start-up envisaged. Although based on France’s Melox MOX facility, the US project has presented many first-of-a-kind challenges and in 2012 the US Government Accountability Office reported it would likely not start up before 2019 and cost at least $7.7 billion, far above original estimate of $4.9 billion.

Here’s What DOE Wants for Free

DOE-NE’s RFA seeks proposals from industry on detailed plans to leverage the DOE authorization process to design, construct, and operate nuclear fuel recycling, processing, and fuel fabrication to support the deployment of advanced reactors.

EM’s RFA seeks proposals from private industry for a commercial-scale demonstration of recycling defense-related used nuclear fuel [emphasis added) at the Idaho National Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) at the Idaho Site. This is most likely spent fuel from US Navy nuclear powered ships and submarines now in dry cask storage at INL. Defense nuclear fuel is not at all like spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants.

• First of all its original enrichment level is referred to as highly enriched uranium fuel. As of 2020 it was reported that US naval reactors are fueled by weapon-grade HEU (93.5% U-235). Naval reactors are designed to run on it for periods of time up to 20 years.
• Second, there are important security measures that are taken by the government when the spent fuel is shipped from U.S. Navy shipyards to INTEC and for managing it once the fuel arrives there.
• Third, any type of spent fuel reprocessing work will require construction of new facilities at INTEC for remote handling of the higly radioactive spent fuel and for managing the waste streams from these activities. The costs are definitely in range of the billions of dollars.

Nevertheless, DOE is pushing ahead. NE Assistant Secretary Ted Garrish said in the press statement the reason for the RFA is that, “used nuclear fuel represents an immense, untapped energy resource for the United States.”

DOE said in its press statement,”the RFAs represent an opportunity for private sector ingenuity to lead the charge in America’s nuclear renaissance. Through EM’s RFA, a selected offeror will secure a long-term lease for prime DOE property at INTEC. They will be entrusted with the full lifecycle of a cutting-edge, dedicated recycling facility – encompassing its financing, design, permitting, fabrication, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning.

NE’s RFA stated, “the agency will provide an authorization pathway for industry to design, construct, and operate nuclear fuel recycling, reprocessing, and fuel fabrication facilities in the United States.”

DOE said in its RFA that “offerors are required to submit proposals showcasing a profound understanding of advanced nuclear fuel recycling, coupled with comprehensive and robust business, security, regulatory compliance, and proposed waste management plans.”

Here’s the part about DOE not putting up any cash on the barrel head to fund the work.

“The selected offerors will be fully responsible for all project costs, demonstrating a true partnership between government and industry. While collaboration is welcomed, stringent national security protocols will govern the participation of any non-U.S. entities due to the export controlled nature of these recycling technologies, ensuring that all personnel involved can obtain the necessary security clearances and protect American interests.”

EM will sponsor an Industry Day event to explain and answer questions about their RFA’s solicitation process. Potential attendees should e-mail Aaron S. Nebeker; nebekeas@id.doe.gov for more information on attending.

Request for Applications

DOE issued a Request for Applications on April 22, 2026. The Department is seeking proposals from industry partners on their plans to design, construct, and operate nuclear fuel recycling, reprocessing, and fuel fabrication facilities in the United States. Initial applications are due by June 19, 2026, with subsequent applications allowed on a rolling basis.

Read the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Recycling Request for Applications