The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) selects five teams for experiments on the sedan-sized MARVEL microreactor.
The Idaho National Laboratory has announced the initial selection of five teams to conduct the first end-user experiments on the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation test bed. These efforts, which include powering data centers for the artificial intelligence race and advancing water desalination, aim to unleash private-sector innovation and expedite the deployment of commercial nuclear energy .
First-of-a-kind microreactor test bedMARVEL is a first-of-a-kind microreactor test bed designed to pioneer the integration of nuclear power into non-traditional applications. Physically compact, the reactor is approximately the size of a sedan car and stands just 15 feet tall. It is slated for operation at the Transient Reactor Test Facility at the INL, providing a rare platform for the private sector to demonstrate innovative use cases on a live system.Despite its small footprint, MARVEL is a powerhouse of thermal capabilities. It acts as a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor using uranium-zirconium hydride fuel—similar to that used in university research. The system employs natural circulation cooling to operate at a temperature range of 500°C to 550°C, producing 85 kilowatts of thermal energy and approximately 20 kW of electricity.“Nowhere else in the world will you find this level of support for public sector innovation in nuclear energy,” said John Jackson, national technical director for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program. “With access to MARVEL, companies can explore how microreactors will potentially help us win the global AI race, solve water challenges, and so much more. The MARVEL testbed exemplifies how nuclear energy can open the door to a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future for our country.”Team of major industry leadersThe five competitively selected teams include major industry leaders and academic institutions focused on demonstrating viability in critical sectors. Amazon Web Services proposes coupling MARVEL with a modular data center. This project aims to create a self-sustaining system for defense and government agencies that can operate independently of traditional power infrastructure. Similarly focused on computing power, DCX USA and Arizona State University plan to demonstrate the feasibility of a microreactor powering a data center for artificial intelligence, gathering data on how to provide the stable, continuous power required for AI processing. Operational advancements and resource management are also key focuses of the selected experiments. General Electric Vernova intends to demonstrate remote and autonomous reactor operations to establish control standards for broader commercial application. At the same time, Radiation Detection Technologies will test advanced high-performance sensor technologies to monitor the performance of advanced reactors. Finally, a consortium comprising Shepherd Power, NOV, and ConocoPhillips will launch a pilot-scale desalination project using nuclear-generated process heat to address challenges posed by “produced water” in oil and gas operations.The selected teams will now coordinate with the Department of Energy and national laboratory experts to create implementation plans and determine the feasibility of their proposed applications. These efforts may lead to full demonstration opportunities, with final agreements for the proposed projects anticipated to be announced in 2026.
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