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US Army to build nuclear microreactors on military bases, $2.2 billion awarded to five companies

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • The US Army is awarding up to $2.2 billion to five companies to build and operate small nuclear reactors on military bases.
  • These "microreactors" are factory-built, transportable plants designed to generate up to 20 megawatts of power each.
  • The initiative, part of the Janus program, aims to power remote installations and targets the first deployment by September 2028, potentially reducing high energy costs in locations like Alaska.

The US Army is set to award contracts totaling up to $2.2 billion to five companies for the development and operation of nuclear microreactors on military installations. This initiative aims to provide a new power source for remote bases, with the goal of deploying the first reactor by September 2028.

These "microreactors" are described as tiny, factory-built nuclear plants that developers claim are easily transportable and can generate up to 20 megawatts of power. The Army believes this technology, under the program named Janus, could significantly enhance energy capabilities at isolated locations, such as those in Alaska or on various islands.

The whole idea here is that at the back end of this we want a commercial product.

— Jeff WaksmanPrincipal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, discussing the long-term commercial application of microreactors.

The selected companies and their designated bases are: Antares Nuclear Inc. at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood, Texas; Radiant Industries Inc. at Fort Benning, Georgia; and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum, New York. Radiant Industries indicated it would receive up to $750 million to develop and deploy 15 of its Kaleidos reactors.

An Army official clarified that these reactors will adhere to all environmental and safety regulations applicable to commercial reactors but will be regulated by the Army itself, not the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mike Starrett, Chief Commercial Officer for Radiant, stated that the Janus award is crucial for scaling up their business to serve commercial clients like data centers around 2030. While critics point to the potential high cost of microreactors compared to conventional plants, the Army aims to reduce these costs through the Janus program, potentially lowering the current high energy expenses for installations like those in the Arctic, which can cost around 40 cents per kilowatt-hour.

What we are trying to do here with Janus... is to flesh out how we can get those prices down.

— Jeff WaksmanPrincipal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressing concerns about the cost of microreactors.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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