1-MW nuclear battery moves from 155-day criticality to full-power land and sea tests

U.S. nuclear startup Deployable Energy is taking its compact reactor from criticality to full-power operation, demonstrating its Unity Nuclear Battery at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and test the system in a maritime environment with Hornbeck Offshore. The two projects will move the microreactor beyond earlier development work and test its performance under conditions closer to real-world deployment. The demonstrations were selected through the National Reactor Innovation Center’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program. The test will generate data on the reactor’s performance, controls, safety and integration to support future U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing. The reactor has already reached criticality at INL in 155 days, a milestone John Wagner, director of Idaho National Laboratory, called a benchmark for speed. “Deployable Energy has set the benchmark for speed to criticality, moving from initial discussions to reaching criticality in just 155 days,” Wagner said. “With their strong collaborative spirit and impressive ability to execute, we’re excited to continue supporting Deployable Energy as they advance toward commercialization.” Full-power testing moves forward The full-power run will put the Unity Nuclear Battery through a more demanding stage of testing than its earlier criticality milestone. It will allow Deployable Energy to assess how the integrated system operates at its intended power level, including its controls, safety systems and operating procedures. The second demonstration will take the Unity Nuclear Battery into an offshore environment. Deployable Energy will work with Hornbeck Offshore to assess how the system could function in maritime operations, where space, weight, logistics, environmental conditions and system integration present different constraints from land-based installations. The project will also examine the deployment process beyond the reactor itself, including how a nuclear power system can be transported, integrated and operated in an offshore setting. “Nuclear-powered maritime operations are exactly the kind of environment where Deployable Energy and Hornbeck Offshore have the potential to create significant value for coastal communities,” said Todd M. Hornbeck, chairman, president and CEO of Hornbeck Offshore. “This maritime demonstration will allow us to test not only power generation, but also the deployment model, from transportation and integration to operations.” For Deployable Energy, the maritime test could provide a practical validation path for microreactors designed for locations where conventional power infrastructure is difficult to establish or maintain. The company says the approach could eventually support commercial, government, defense, emergency-response and remote-energy applications. Its broader strategy is to develop nuclear systems that can be transported, installed, operated and redeployed, rather than built as permanent, site-specific projects. “Our objective is bigger than a single demonstration,” said Sanjay Mukhi, chief commercial officer with Deployable Energy. “We are leveraging the entire ecosystem developed by INL to prove out our commercial offerings through a suite of rigorous tests that showcase the Unity Nuclear Battery under real operating conditions, which creates the confidence needed for broader deployment.”Deployable Energy has not yet announced specific dates for either demonstration. Technical objectives and operational milestones are expected to be disclosed as the programs progress.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.