The Department of Energy has approved a commercial safety analysis of nuclear microreactors for full-power operations. The California-based Kalidus Radiant Reactor will undergo testing at the Idaho National Laboratory. Output: 1 megawatt of electricity, enough for up to 1,000 households, all of which go into a shipping container. Efficiency: ~33%, compared to 33-37% for conventional 1,500 MW nuclear reactors. Cooling: Helium cooled with air-based heat rejection, without the need for cooling water. Fuel: operates 5 years before returning to the factory for refueling. Estimated natural uranium requirement of ~4.2 tons per cycle, compared to ~0.8-1.1 tons for a conventional reactor producing the same electricity. Life expectancy: 20 years, with 3 refuelings. First commercial deliveries are planned for 2028, including to US military bases.

The Department of Energy has approved a commercial safety analysis of nuclear microreactors for full-power operations. The California-based Kalidus Radiant Reactor will undergo testing at the Idaho National Laboratory. Output: 1 megawatt of electricity, enough for up to 1,000 households, all of which go into a shipping container. Efficiency: ~33%, compared to 33-37% for conventional 1,500 MW nuclear reactors. Cooling: Helium cooled with air-based heat rejection, without the need for cooling water. Fuel: operates 5 years before returning to the factory for refueling. Estimated natural uranium requirement of ~4.2 tons per cycle, compared to ~0.8-1.1 tons for a conventional reactor producing the same electricity. Life expectancy: 20 years, with 3 refuelings. First commercial deliveries are planned for 2028, including to US military bases.