Project Pele

On 9 March 2020, the Department awarded three development contracts, to:

• BWX Technologies, of Virginia, for $13.5 million;
• Westinghouse Government Services of Washington, D.C. for $11.95 million; and
• X-energy of Maryland, for $14.3 million.[https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2105863/dod-awards-contracts-for-development-of-a-mobile-microreactor/ DOD Awards Contracts for Development of a Mobile Microreactor], media release, US Department of Defense, 2020-03-09

The two-year engineering design competition is for a small nuclear micro-reactor in the 1-5 megawatt (MWe) power range.

Out of the initial three contracts - BWX Technologies, Westinghouse Government Services and X-energy - only BWX Technologies and X-energy were selected in 2021 to develop a final design for a prototype mobile microreactor under the Project Pele initiative,{{Cite web |title=BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWXT-and-X-Energy-selected-to-develop-Project-Pele |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=www.world-nuclear-news.org}} and then in June 2022 BWXT was awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense (DOD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) to build the prototype and deliver it by 2024. The estimated cost of this prototype is approximately 300 million USD.{{Cite web |title=BWX Technologies selected to build Project Pele microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWX-Technologies-selected-to-build-Project-Pele-mi |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=www.world-nuclear-news.org}} In December 2022, BWXT started the TRISO fuel production at BWX Technologies Inc's Lynchburg facility in Virginia.{{Cite web |title=BWXT starts fuel production for microreactor : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News |url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWXT-starts-fuel-production-for-microreactor |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=world-nuclear-news.org}}

The envisaged reactor is intended to be deployable by road, rail, aircraft, or sea. It will be capable of quickly being brought on load, and be inherently safe.{{efn|name= projPele|1= It will use TRISO fuel[https://breakingdefense.com/2020/04/new-triso-nuclear-mini-reactors-will-be-safe-program-manager/ Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (8 April 2020) New TRISO Nuclear Mini-Reactors Will Be Safe: Program Manager ] DoD project: 3 competing designs (1-year contracts, with a possible 1 year follow-on) for 1 prototype of an inherently safe reactor (no meltdowns). Fuel rods are composed of spheres: three layers of uranium, carbon, silicon carbide—TRISO has been tested to be safe at 3200°F, hotter than the melting point of steel. A molten salt reactor is a possibility. (2022)—Idaho National Laboratory will assemble a Project Pele transportable nuclear reactor, and test it for up to three years;Jaspreet Gill [https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/idaho-national-labs-to-build-pentagons-mobile-nuclear-microreactor/ (13 Apr 2022) Idaho National Labs to build Pentagon’s mobile 'nuclear microreactor'] if test performance warrants it, this type of reactor will generate a nominal 2 MWe (1 to 5 MWe— megaWatts, electrical) for up to 3 years, for isolated areas such as the Arctic, or for an island;Todd South [https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2022/04/15/pentagon-to-build-nuclear-microreactor-to-power-far-flung-bases/ (15 Apr 2022) Pentagon to build nuclear microreactors to power far-flung bases] Ft Greeley the reactor will be gas-cooled;DoD SCO [https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2998460/dod-to-build-project-pele-mobile-microreactor-and-perform-demonstration-at-idah/ (13 Apr 2022) DoD to Build Project Pele Mobile Microreactor and Perform Demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory]Jeff Waksman [https://gain.inl.gov/GAINEPRINEI_MicroreactorProgramVirtualWorkshopPres/Day-2%20Presentations/Day-2-am.02-Nichols_PeleProgOverviewPublicMarch2020,19Aug2020.pdf (Mar 2020) Project Pele Overview]DoD Office of the Secretary, SCO [https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ROD-Distro-A.pdf (15 Apr 2022) Record of Decision for the Final Construction and Demonstration of a Prototype Mobile Microreactor Environmental Impact Statement ] the fuel will be high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU);BWX Technologies (BWXT) [https://www.bwxt.com/news/2022/06/09/BWXT-to-Build-First-Advanced-Microreactor-in-United-States (9 Jun 2022) BWXT to Build First Advanced Microreactor in United States] for Project Pele experiments for handling the nuclear fuel will be performed at Idaho National Labs Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT), or the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) during the three year test period. Mobile Microreactor startup testing at the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), or at the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex (CITRC). Assembling, operating, and disassembling, and transporting the Mobile Microreactor at the MFC, or at the CITRC. Transporting the disassembled mobile microreactor to temporary storage at the Radioactive Scrap and Waste Facility (RSWF), or at the Outdoor Radioactive Storage Area (ORSA). Potentially conducting mobile microreactor and spent nuclear fuel post-irradiation examination (PIE) and disposition at Idaho National Lab. Produce reliable electrical power on an electrical grid that is separate from the public utility grid at Idaho National Lab. }} Information from: US Army Futures Command

• Akademik Lomonosov, a Russian floating power plant with two 32 MWe reactors
• Army Nuclear Power Program, a similar US project in the 1960's

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Category:Nuclear reactors

Category:Proposed nuclear power stations

Category:Nuclear power in the United States

Category:Proposed power stations in the United States