Three nuclear startups achieve criticality under DOE pilot program
Three small-reactor companies have reached criticality in a Department of Energy pilot aimed at accelerating advanced nuclear development, though commercial deployment remains years away.
Three nuclear-technology startups have achieved criticality in a Department of Energy (DOE) pilot program that seeks to fast-track the development of next-generation reactors. The milestone aligns with an executive order issued last year that set a July 4 deadline for the first reactors to become operational as part of a broader effort to revive U.S. nuclear capacity.
Valar Atomics reported reaching criticality at Los Alamos National Laboratory late last year and again at a state-funded site in Utah. Antares Nuclear and Deployable Energy also met the deadline, achieving criticality at national laboratory facilities. Aalo Atomics, another participant, expects to reach criticality soon and noted that regulatory approvals have been expedited.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the initiative as part of “America’s nuclear renaissance.” The DOE has reduced several environmental and safety review requirements for reactors in the program, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is working with the agency on an accelerated licensing timeline.
"These prototypes mean everything and nothing," said Adam Stein, director of the Nuclear Energy Innovation program at the Breakthrough Institute, noting that while the reactors demonstrate technical feasibility, they are not yet commercial products.
"Before, you’d try to get a signature, and maybe it would sit on someone’s desk for five weeks. Now, it’s like, done the next day, because it’s a priority for the nation," said Matt Loszak, co-founder and CEO of Aalo Atomics.
Industry observers caution that reaching criticality does not guarantee electricity generation or grid integration. Licensing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission traditionally takes years, and supply-chain constraints, especially for fuel, could delay commercial rollout. Brett Rampal, senior director of nuclear and power strategy at Veriten, warned that historical nuclear projects have often exceeded cost and schedule estimates.
The pilot’s achievements are viewed as a proof-of-concept that could attract investment, but analysts stress that substantial technical, regulatory, and financial hurdles remain before small reactors can provide reliable, large-scale power.