The US Departments of Energy and Defense successfully airlifted a compact nuclear reactor from California to Utah aboard a cargo plane on Sunday. This groundbreaking demonstration aimed to showcase the rapid deployment capabilities of nuclear power for both military and civilian applications.
Teaming up with Valar Atomics, a California-based company, the agencies utilized a C-17 aircraft to transport one of Valar’s Ward microreactors, devoid of nuclear fuel, to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey accompanied the reactor and its components on the flight, emphasizing the significance of this achievement for US nuclear energy advancement and military logistics.
Under Secretary Duffey expressed, “This gets us closer to deploy nuclear power when and where it is needed to give our nation’s warfighters the tools to win in battle.”
President Donald Trump’s administration views small nuclear reactors as a key element in expanding US energy production. To support this initiative, last May, President Trump issued four executive orders focused on increasing domestic nuclear deployment to meet the escalating energy demands for national security and competitive AI advancements.
In December, the Energy Department awarded two grants to expedite the development of small modular reactors. Advocates of microreactors highlight their potential as energy sources that can be transported to remote areas, offering an alternative to diesel generators that require frequent fuel deliveries. However, critics have raised concerns about the cost-effectiveness of small nuclear reactors compared to larger nuclear facilities or renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
The Energy Department aims to have three microreactors achieve “criticality” by July 4, according to Secretary Wright. The microreactor involved in Sunday’s operation, slightly larger than a minivan, has the capacity to generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power 5,000 homes, as per Valar CEO Isaiah Taylor. The reactor will commence operations at 100 kilowatts in July, reaching 250 kilowatts by the year-end before scaling up to full capacity.
Valar anticipates initiating power sales on a trial basis in 2027 and transitioning to full commercial operation by 2028. While the private sector finances nuclear technology development, federal support is crucial to enable activities like fuel fabrication and uranium enrichment domestically, Taylor mentioned.
Secretary Wright informed reporters that the fuel for Valar’s reactor will be transported from the Nevada National Security site to the San Rafael facility. Nonetheless, the production of nuclear waste, even by small reactors, poses a substantial challenge, according to nuclear power safety director Edwin Lyman. Designers often overlook waste management considerations at the project’s inception.
Despite the unresolved nuclear waste disposal issue, the Energy Department is engaging with several states, including Utah, to potentially host facilities for fuel reprocessing and permanent disposal, Secretary Wright disclosed.
