Department of Energy Marks Milestone with Advanced Reactor Criticality at Idaho National Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant achievement in the field of nuclear energy with the successful completion of a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration of Antares Nuclear's advanced reactor design, the Mark-0, at the Idaho National Laboratory. This marks the first time in over four decades that a new privately developed non-light-water reactor has reached criticality in the United States. The test confirms the reactor's ability to operate safely and sets the stage for future reactors to produce electricity by 2027. This development is part of the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to expedite the certification and construction of advanced reactor designs. The program has been bolstered by President Trump's executive order, which set a deadline for these reactors to achieve criticality by July 4th.