Potential site would host new facility to advance commercial Aalo-1 microreactor design.
December 10, 2024
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Materials and Fuels Complex at Idaho National Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has identified a piece of land at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a potential site for Aalo Atomics to build a new experimental reactor facility.
The new facility will be used to advance the company’s commercial Aalo-1 microreactor design that the company hopes to deploy before the end of the decade.
The Aalo-X Reactor
Aalo Atomics is developing a 10-megawatt-electric sodium-cooled microreactor inspired by DOE’s MARVEL microreactor design currently under development at INL.
The Austin, Texas-based company is working to optimize the reactor for mass manufacturing and plans to use existing commercial supply chains to deliver clean, low-cost heat to power everything from data centers to industrial facilities.
Aalo Atomics plans to construct and operate an experimental Aalo-X reactor at the lab complex.
The new facility will help uncover new data on its sodium-cooled microreactor technology, including operations related to advanced safety systems, fuel performance, and coolant efficiency.
"We’re thrilled to take this next step with the Department of Energy as we work to bring decades of sodium-cooled reactor expertise into a new era of factory-built energy solutions," said Yasir Arafat, CTO and Co-founder of Aalo Atomics. "Aalo-X is our proving ground — a chance to show how advanced nuclear can be safe, scalable, and cost-effective. We’re excited to be partnering with INL to demonstrate just how transformative this technology can be."
Aalo Atomics will pursue DOE authorization to build and operate the Aalo-X facility under the oversight of the Department’s Idaho Operations Office.
The company expects to complete the process in less than two years, potentially starting construction as early as 2026 with operations starting in 2027.
Aalo Atomics is currently working with INL through a GAIN Voucher to gather additional performance data to support the company’s final design and licensing activities.