Pele prototype core reactor assembly
Initiated in 2019, Project Pele aims to design, construct, and demonstrate a prototype mobile nuclear reactor by 2024. The effort is led by the Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office, in partnership with the US Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and industry collaborators.
BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy LLC were chosen to finalize the design for a 1.5 MWe high-temperature gas reactor using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel. In June 2022, BWXT secured a contract to build the prototype, with key contributions from Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce Liberty Works, and Torch Technologies. The reactor’s fuel, produced at BWXT’s facilities using material from the Department of Energy’s highly-enriched uranium stockpile, has been completed and is set to be delivered to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in the coming months.
“We are proud to develop and deliver the Pele microreactor for the benefit of our armed forces,” said Kate Kelly, President of BWXT Advanced Technologies. “This is a tremendous achievement for the BWXT team and for the advancement of groundbreaking nuclear energy technology as a reliable, resilient source of electricity and heat for multiple applications.”
The prototype is designed to fit within four 20-foot shipping containers for easy transport. Testing will take place at INL’s Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex, with the reactor expected to generate electricity by 2028. Northrop Grumman is supplying the control module, while Rolls-Royce is developing the power conversion module at its Liberty Works facility in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This project represents a collaborative effort to advance innovative nuclear technology, providing a portable and efficient energy solution for various applications.
