The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has announced the initial selections for the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) end user experiments. This initiative aims to explore advanced applications for nuclear technology, with five teams chosen to demonstrate various test cases, including desalination for remote operations and the use of advanced sensors.
These experiments mark a significant step towards showcasing the feasibility of utilizing nuclear power to support data centers, an emerging application designed to maintain America’s leadership in innovation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. This initiative aligns with earlier executive orders from the Trump administration, which sought to stimulate private sector innovation and accelerate the deployment of commercial nuclear energy technologies.
John Jackson, the national technical director for the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program, emphasized the unique support for public sector innovation in nuclear energy, stating, “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.” Jackson highlighted that the MARVEL testbed exemplifies how nuclear energy can pave the way for a more secure and prosperous future.
Details on the MARVEL Microreactor
MARVEL is a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor being developed by the Department of Energy. It is designed to generate 85 kilowatts of thermal energy and up to 20 kilowatts of electricity. Located at the Transient Reactor Test Facility at INL, MARVEL will serve as a platform for the private sector to access an operational microreactor, enabling the demonstration of innovative new applications for this technology.
The following organizations have been selected as the first potential end users for the MARVEL project. They will collaborate with Department of Energy and national laboratory staff to devise implementation plans for their proposed experiments:
– Amazon Web Services Inc. aims to integrate the MARVEL reactor with a modular data center, providing defense and government agencies with a self-sustaining, rapidly deployable system that operates independently of traditional power sources.
– DCX USA and Arizona State University plan to utilize MARVEL to assess the feasibility of powering a data center focused on artificial intelligence, gathering data on maintaining a stable power supply that meets the demands of AI processing.
– General Electric Vernova intends to demonstrate remote and autonomous reactor operations while establishing control standards applicable to commercial reactors.
– Radiation Detection Technologies Inc. proposes to test advanced sensor technologies with MARVEL, which could enhance monitoring capabilities for advanced reactors.
– A collaboration between Shepherd Power, NOV, and ConocoPhillips seeks to pilot a desalination project, utilizing nuclear-generated process heat to address challenges related to produced water in oil and gas operations.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
The selected teams will coordinate with experts from national laboratories to evaluate the feasibility of their proposed applications using MARVEL. This collaboration may lead to opportunities for demonstration projects, with final agreements expected to be announced in the coming year.
The MARVEL initiative reflects a commitment to harnessing nuclear technology for innovative solutions, reinforcing the potential for advanced nuclear energy to address critical challenges such as water scarcity and the growing energy demands of modern technology.
