X-Energy was awarded a contract option by the US Department of Defense (DoD) to develop an enhanced design for a transportable nuclear microreactor as part of Project Pele.
Project Pele is a DoD Strategic Capabilities Office initiative. The project’s objective is to design, build, and demonstrate a prototype mobile high-temperature, gas-cooled and TRISO-fueled microreactor nuclear reactor. The reactor is currently in the final stages of the design phase with the BWXT aiming for a reactor design which is ready for licensing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for both commercial ventures and military resiliency.
X-Energy was initially chosen alongside BWXT by the DoD in 2019 to develop a final design for the Department’s prototype reactor. Now, while BWXT continues to work on the Project Pele design, which is expected to be completed over the course of 2024 and operational in 2025, X-Energy will begin to work on a “thorough analysis of design options, leading to a Preliminary Engineering Design and initiation of a regulatory preapplication process,” according to the DoD release.
The DoD does not expect X-Energy’s contract to result in a completed engineering design.
“By developing two unique designs, we will provide the Services with a broad range of options as they consider potential uses of nuclear power for both Installation and Operational energy applications in the near future,” said Dr. Jeff Waksman, Project Pele program manager.
The DoD’s initiatives are meant to drive renewed domestic competition in the nuclear energy marketplace. In addition to providing a carbon-neutral and reliable energy option, the DoD hopes its efforts will result in reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and the associated economic volatility that comes with energy price fluctuations.
