Kaleidos microreactors secure US uranium fuel enriched up to 20% for deployment

Radiant has secured a domestic supply of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) from Centrus Energy to fuel multiple Kaleidos microreactors as it moves toward commercial and national security deployments. Under a new multi-year contract announced September 9, Centrus will begin supplying the specialized nuclear fuel before the end of the decade. The agreement also includes prepayments from Radiant to support Centrus’ expansion of domestic enrichment capacity. The deal addresses a key challenge for advanced nuclear developers. While companies are developing smaller and more flexible reactors, securing enough HALEU remains critical to getting these systems into commercial operation. HALEU contains between 5% and 20% uranium-235 and is being developed as fuel for several advanced reactor designs. Radiant says it is building its fuel supply strategy alongside the Kaleidos reactor rather than waiting until the reactor is ready for deployment. Nuclear fuel gets secured “You can’t deploy nuclear reactors without fuel, so we have approached our fuel supply the same way we have approached the reactor: build it in parallel, and don’t depend on any single path,” said Dr. Rita Baranwal, Chief Nuclear Officer of Radiant. “This agreement gives Kaleidos a continued source of HALEU for commercial and national security applications and removes one of the biggest constraints facing advanced nuclear deployment.” Radiant is developing Kaleidos as a transportable microreactor that can be moved by land, sea and air. The company is targeting applications including remote locations, data centers, defense facilities and commercial and industrial sites where reliable power may be difficult to provide through conventional infrastructure. The new contract gives Radiant another domestic source of HALEU as it moves from its first Kaleidos test toward broader deployment. It also reduces reliance on a single fuel pathway as the company works to scale its reactor technology. For Centrus, the agreement adds another customer to its HALEU business and supports its plans to expand U.S. enrichment capacity. Radiant’s prepayments will help advance Centrus’ domestic commercial enrichment program. Microreactors target remote power The HALEU supplied to Radiant will be “unobligated,” meaning it can be used for national security applications. Centrus said the fuel will be produced using U.S.-origin technology and a U.S. manufacturing supply chain. Centrus’ AC100 centrifuge design is the only deployment-ready U.S.-origin technology currently available for unobligated enrichment, according to the company. The effort is part of a broader push to rebuild domestic uranium enrichment capacity as the U.S. seeks more secure nuclear fuel supplies. “The contract with Radiant marks another important step in building the domestic fuel supply chain needed to support the next generation of nuclear energy,” said Amir Vexler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centrus. “By expanding our work to include innovative microreactor developers like Radiant, we are strengthening the U.S.-based fuel supply network. This will help ensure that emerging nuclear technologies have access to the reliable fuel they need to reach commercialization and meet growing demand for clean, secure, and dependable energy.” Radiant’s Kaleidos is designed around transportability and plug-in-ready deployment. That could allow the reactor to serve sites that need dependable power without waiting for large-scale grid infrastructure. The companies did not disclose the contract’s financial value or the amount of HALEU covered by the agreement. Centrus will begin deliveries before the end of the decade as Radiant advances testing and prepares for potential commercial and national security deployments. 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.