Former SpaceX engineer's low-cost mobile nuclear reactor will launch in 2026

A team of former SpaceX engineers is developing the world's first portable, zero-emission power source that could bring electricity to remote lands. Even in densely populated areas, new reactors can be installed quickly. With this project, they are gradually realizing the trend of providing nuclear energy with small, light and low-cost reactors.

In 2020, their startup Radiant received $1.2 million in funding from venture investors, with the aim of developing small and portable nuclear reactors that can be used for both military and commercial applications. commercial. By April 2023, Radiant Industries raised $40 million to build a full-scale reactor prototype and recently received a $3.8 million Energy Operations Capability Improvement Fund award. in December of the same year.

Currently, floating nuclear power plants in the form of a ship are also being developed, such as those produced by the Danish company Seaborg Technologies. However, Radiant's new technology offers a completely new direction in portability for nuclear reactors.

Radiant's small reactor will generate more than 1.2 MW of power, enough to power about 1,000 homes for up to 8 years. It can be transported easily by air, sea and land. This will bring affordable energy to remote communities, especially those without easy access to renewable energy, helping them reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Radiant reactor core cooled by helium.

Doug Bernauer, CEO of Radiant and a former SpaceX engineer, worked to develop energy sources for future Mars settlements while at SpaceX. Bernauer founded Radiant with two other SpaceX engineers after seeing an opportunity to develop an affordable, flexible energy source on Earth from his experience researching microreactors for Mars. He said many of the microreactors under development have fixed positions and no systems have yet been commercialized, so Radiant is trying to be a pioneer in this race.

Radiant has received two patents for mobile nuclear reactor technology , one of which reduces the cost and time required to refuel a reactor, the other is Improves heat transfer efficiency from the reactor core . This small reactor will use advanced nuclear fuel that does not melt and can withstand higher temperatures than traditional nuclear fuel. Helium coolant reduces the risk of corrosion and does not become radioactive, eliminating the environmental impact of leaks. Radiant has contracted with Battelle Energy Alliance to test mobile microreactor technology at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

Radiant's entire Kaleidos furnace package, expected to be available in 2026.

The Kaleidos reactor , Radiant's first product, will be a portable nuclear reactor that replaces diesel generators, it has all the components needed to generate electricity contained in a small box-shaped container that can produce Bulk and easy to transport. It replaces diesel generators in remote villages such as those in the Arctic and provides flexible backup power to hospitals, data centers and isolated military installations that typically rely on generators. electricity runs on fossil fuels.

Kaleidos utilizes fans to cool the air so there is no need to use water on site, so it can work anywhere. While producing electricity, Kaleidos can also provide 1.9 MW of thermal power to heat furnaces or desalinate water. The air intake passively cools the furnace core through natural convection. It will be the first commercial reactor to achieve fuel utilization testing in more than 50 years.

Trucks can easily transport Kaleidos furnaces to remote locations.

Dr Jess Gehin, scientist at INL said: 'In some areas of the world, reliance on diesel fuel is not sustainable, and neither solar nor wind power is available. available or impractical. Clean, safe nuclear reactors are emerging as the best alternative energy source for these places.'

Portable microreactors are not only better for the environment but are also practical because they do not require constant transport of fuel. Instead, clean fuel for Radiant's reactor can last more than four years. If Radiant's testing goes well, nuclear power could soon be put to use. It will help power countless remote communities and will further fuel the resurgence of nuclear energy as the world needs clean energy solutions more than ever.