DOE fast tracks test reactor projects: What to know

August 12, 2025, 4:07PMNuclear News

The race to bring test reactors on line by July 4, 2026, got a boost today when the Department of Energy unveiled the names of 10 companies selected for the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program—a new pathway that allows reactor authorization outside national labs.

As first outlined in one of the four executive orders on nuclear energy released by President Trump on May 23 and in the request for applications for the Reactor Pilot Program released June 18, the companies must use their own money and sites—and DOE authorization—to get reactors operating. What they won’t need is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission license.

Deep Fission, Deep Isolation to collaborate on SNF management

April 8, 2025, 7:00AMRadwaste Solutions
Deep Isolation’s Rod Baltzer and Deep Fission’s Elizabeth Muller. (Photo: Deep Fission)

Nuclear start-ups Deep Fission and Deep Isolation will collaborate on the management of spent nuclear fuel from Deep Fission’s advanced underground reactors under a memorandum of understanding signed by the companies.

First GAIN vouchers of 2025 go to Curio, Deep Fission, Kairos, and NuCube Energy

January 9, 2025, 7:04AMNuclear News

The Department of Energy’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) has awarded four fiscal year 2025 vouchers to support the development of advanced nuclear technologies. Each company will get access to specific capabilities and expertise in the DOE’s national laboratory complex—in this round of awards both Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are named—and will be responsible for a minimum 20 percent cost share, which can be an in-kind contribution.