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Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Foundation and MicroNuclear Collaborate to Advance Molten Salt Nuclear Battery Technology

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Foundation and MicroNuclear, LLC today announced a collaboration agreement to jointly advance the development of MicroNuclear's Molten Salt Nuclear Battery© (MsNB). The MsNB is a compact molten salt microreactor concept designed to provide stable power and process heat. This collaboration will support the next phase of MsNB development, including detailed engineering design, safety and licensing approval, prototype manufacturing, first fission testing, and the development of a reusable model for future deployment and commercialization. The agreement brings together complementary expertise in engineering, reactor technology, manufacturing, quality assurance, training, operations, and commercialization...

2026-09-18

U.S. Deployable Energy Microreactor Selected for Two Nuclear Energy Demonstration Projects

Deployable Energy announced on August 28 that its advanced deployable energy system has been selected for two upcoming demonstration projects under the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC): a full-power demonstration of the nuclear energy startup platform at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and an offshore demonstration of the U.S. nuclear energy startup platform in collaboration with Hornbeck Offshore. Established in 2019, the National Reactor Innovation Center works primarily with industry and the U.S. national laboratory system to advance nuclear technologies from conceptual design through demonstration, validation, and commercial deployment. The two selected projects will continue Deployable Energy's prior collaboration with INL under the nuclear energy startup platform program, accumulating technical and operational data to support subsequent testing, validation, and regulatory engagement for advanced nuclear technologies.

2026-08-29

US Deployable Signs MOU with Utah on Nuclear Microreactor Siting

Deployable Energy Limited (Deployable) announced on August 21 local time that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) on August 18. The MOU establishes a non-binding cooperation framework for the two parties to jointly explore the feasibility of siting Unity nuclear batteries in Utah and supports subsequent information exchange. Deployable is a clean energy company engaged in the design and manufacture of compact, transportable nuclear microreactors. The company stated that signing this MOU is a step forward in advancing the research, development, testing, and commercial deployment of Unity nuclear batteries...

2026-08-22

US Oak Ridge National Laboratory Advances Radioisotope Nuclear Battery Development

On August 17, 2026, the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory stated that its nuclear battery program is advancing the development of radioisotope power systems to meet the demand for stable, long-life power sources in deep space exploration, long-term power supply in remote areas, and national security-related scenarios. NASA's Perseverance Mars rover poses with several of the 10 sample tubes it placed in a sample depot it established in a region of Jezero Crater called "Three Forks." The rover's radioisotope thermoelectric generator is powered by a nuclear battery. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS. Nuclear batteries generate electricity from the energy released by the decay of radioisotopes, making them suitable for environments such as the seafloor, remote deserts, and extraterrestrial surfaces where maintenance is difficult and continuous power supply is needed for years or even decades.

2026-08-19

Deployable Energy and Hornbeck Offshore Partner to Advance Maritime Microreactor Applications

Deployable Energy recently announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hornbeck Offshore to advance the commercialization of the Unity nuclear battery for maritime and offshore applications. Hornbeck Offshore has also made a strategic investment in Deployable Energy. Under the arrangement, the collaboration will combine Deployable Energy's transportable microreactor technology with Hornbeck Offshore's operational expertise in offshore service vessels, focusing on applications such as inland waterways, offshore vessels and platforms, national security logistics and autonomous vessels, power generation barges, and floating data centers. ...

2026-08-19

U.S. Company Proposes Americium-241 Radioisotope Heating Solution for Spacesuits, Receives Early NASA Research Support

U.S.-based Zeno Power Systems has proposed a radioisotope heating concept for lunar extravehicular activities, planning to use Americium-241 (Am-241) to provide continuous passive warmth for astronauts during lunar nights and in permanently shadowed regions. The proposal has been selected for this year's NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, with the potential to receive up to $175,000 in early-stage research funding. The lunar surface environment is one of the key challenges for long-duration crewed missions. Data shows that lunar nights can last approximately two weeks, and extreme low temperatures will limit the duration of astronaut extravehicular activities in shadowed areas and at night. Even with new-generation spacesuits, their cold resistance remains limited...

2026-08-13

South Korea demonstrates a silicon carbide semiconductor-based beta battery for the first time; the Nickel-63 nuclear battery promises long-term power supply.

On July 26, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) announced that a team led by Senior Researcher Seo Jae-hwa from its Next-Generation Semiconductor Research Center, in collaboration with Professor Yoon Young-jun’s team at Kyungpo

2026-07-27