In what comes as a major development in the energy needs of current and future military capabilities and operations of the US, the Department of Defense (DoD) broke ground at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on the Project Pele transportable nuclear reactor.
"Congratulations to @BWXT on the groundbreaking of the Project Pele mobile reactor. We hail this step forward in deploying the next wave of reactors. Advanced nuclear is on the move.” - ANS CEO Craig Piercyhttps://t.co/h0qRqiGbSu@DeptofDefense
— American Nuclear Society (@ANS_org) September 24, 2024
Launched under the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) of the DoD, Project Pele nuclear reactor is being manufactured by BWXT Advanced Technologies.
The fully-assembled reactor is expected to be transported to the laboratory by 2026.
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When completed, this would become the first ever Generation IV nuclear reactor to generate electricity in the US.
"The prototype reactor facility is designed to be transported within four 20-foot shipping containers, and tested at INL," the US DoD stated.
A concrete shield structure will be constructed at the test site to be ready for reactor placement in 2026.
When the reactor's final safety review is completed, the Pele project team will proceed with the initial test and evaluation plan, the DoD said.
If successful, it could meet the demand for a resilient, carbon-free energy source critical for DoD operations in remote areas, while minimising risk of nuclear proliferation, environmental damage, or harm to people.
Jay Dryer, SCO director said, "Project Pele is a key initiative for improving DoD energy resilience and will also play a crucial role in advancing nuclear power technology for civilian applications."
