microreactors

China is rapidly expanding its nuclear power capacity with large gigawatt-scale pressurized-water reactors, nearly doubling its fleet since 2016. The U.S. and France, traditional nuclear leaders, have struggled to add new reactors, with the U.S. only completing two units at Plant Vogtle. Smaller reactors, including microreactors like Antares' sodium-cooled Mark-0, are gaining attention in the U.S. as potential solutions for faster deployment and lower costs.

The U.S. Energy Department announced that Antares Nuclear Inc.'s microreactor at Idaho National Lab achieved criticality, a milestone under the Trump administration's nuclear energy initiative. The reactor, expected to produce electricity by late 2027, marks the first by a private company in the program.

The U.S. Energy Department announced that a microreactor developed by Antares Nuclear Inc. at Idaho National Lab achieved criticality, a key milestone for producing electricity. This marks the first time a private company under a Trump administration pilot program has reached this stage, with plans for commercial deployment by 2028.