A third advanced reactor is expected to hit criticality in coming days and beat the July 4 deadline, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said at a Thursday event held near the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
Last year, DOE, under Executive Order 14301, established a reactor pilot program with the goal of having at least three test reactors reach zero-power criticality by July 4 this year. So far, two projects have been able to reach that milestone, California-based companies Antares Nuclear and Valar Atomics.
Both Antares and Valar reached criticality in June, and it is possible that the third reactor, constructed by Austin, Texas-based Aalo Atomics, could reach criticality within days, Wright said.
“We will have another one,” Wright said. “I’m very, very thrilled to announce today I signed the authorization for Aalo Atomics. Wait [and see] what happens in the next few days. I think you can guess what’s going to happen there.”
Aalo, founded in 2023, is currently developing its test reactor Aalo-X, a sodium-cooled extra modular reactor that will use low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel. The company held a ceremony after completing its reactor building at INL. It had its preliminary design safety analysis approved by DOE in March and its documented safety analysis approved in May.
When Aalo reaches criticality, it will become the third non-light water reactor design to do sot under the program. Though the company is now expected to meet the July deadline, Wright said that he believed that all the reactor companies, there are 10, would reach criticality eventually.
“All companies, they have different ideas, but they all have an intelligence, drive and boldness about them [that] I’m going to bet [and] I’m not even a bettor, but my bet is that a 100% success,” Wright said. “Everyone who got chosen and is in this program…I can see success across the board.”
Once that goal has been reached, Wright said new goals of electrification would be the next to come for the companies.