The US Department of Energy (DoE) has progressed nuclear technology by launching the Advanced Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to construct and operate at least three test reactors by July 2026.
Eleven companies have been selected for initial collaboration under this pilot scheme: Aalo Atomics, Antares Nuclear, Atomic Alchemy, Deep Fission, Last Energy, Oklo, Natura Resources, Radiant Industries, Terrestrial Energy and Valar Atomics.
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The move aligns with President Trump’s vision to streamline nuclear reactor testing and expedite commercial licensing processes for small and modular plants using innovative technologies.
DOE Deputy Secretary of Energy James P Danly stated: “President Trump’s Reactor Pilot Program is a call to action. These companies aim to all safely achieve criticality by Independence Day, and DoE will do everything we can to support their efforts.”
The programme, announced in June 2025 under President Trump’s Executive Order 14301, seeks to revolutionise the way advanced reactors are tested within the DoE.
By offering a new pathway for faster commercial licensing activities, the initiative is set to catalyse the broad deployment of advanced nuclear energy solutions.
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By GlobalDataObtaining DoE authorisation as provided under the Atomic Energy Act, the selected 11 companies aim to secure private funding and implement an expedited strategy for future commercial licensing initiatives.
Each participating company bears full responsibility for costs related to design, manufacturing, construction, operation and decommissioning of their test reactors.
Terrestrial Energy’s Project TETRA has been selected for the programme, marking a key milestone in the commercialisation of its integral molten salt reactor (IMSR) technology.
The project will complete essential testing to support licensing for commercial IMSR plants in the US, to achieve reactor criticality by July 2026.
The IMSR plant is designed to meet the growing demand for clean, reliable and flexible energy across various industries.
Utilising molten salt reactor technology, it offers a capacity of megawatts thermal/390 megawatts electrical, providing high-temperature thermal energy for efficient steam turbine operation and low-cost electricity.
A key advantage of the IMSR plant is its use of standard-assay low-enriched uranium (LEU), enriched to under 5% U235 [5% of the U-235 isotope].
Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish stated: “We are pleased to have been selected by the DoE for this important project, which will help the US win the race to energy dominance that is now so important for competitive commercial AI and the re-shoring of US manufacturing.
“Our selection for the nuclear reactor pilot program fast-tracks key elements of IMSR design development and advances our programme of fleet-scale deployment of our IMSR plant.”
In July 2025, the DoE announced that its Loan Programs Office (LPO) had cancelled its conditional commitment for a taxpayer-funded loan guarantee of up to $4.9bn for the Grain Belt Express Phase One project.
