Under ConstructionMicroreactor
Project Pele
📍 Idaho Falls, ID (Butte County Co.)Developer: US Department of DefenseVendor / Tech: BWXT
Capacity
—
Expected Operation
2027
Reactor Type
Microreactor
Regulatory Status
Site construction at INL under way (began Sept 2024 groundbreaking per Power Magazine); full core of TRISO fuel (40,000 compacts) delivered to INL's TREAT facility 2025-11-05; reactor assembly at BWXT Lynchburg, VA.
Details
Primary Use
Defense / remote power
Construction Start
2027
Research detail · verified 2026-10-10
Stage
Under construction
Commercial power
No (test, research, military or demonstration)
Stated target operation
Reactor transport to INL in 2026; formal system testing as early as 2027 (per Power Magazine); BWXT plans electricity production at INL as soon as 2028 (search summary)
Key dates
2022-06 BWXT design selected by SCO; 2024-09 groundbreaking at INL; 2025-11-05 full TRISO fuel core delivered to INL
Not verified / conflicts
Could not confirm whether the reactor was actually delivered to INL in 2026. One search summary said site construction 'kicked off in September 2025' while Power Magazine/WNN describe a Sept 2024 groundbreaking; groundbreaking month/year from Power Magazine headline 'breaks ground' article (2024-09). 2028 electricity target from search summary only. No job numbers.
Sources
- https://www.powermag.com/a-first-for-military-nuclear-power-triso-fuel-arrives-at-project-pele/
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202414735/en/BWXT-Delivers-Full-Core-of-TRISO-Nuclear-Fuel-for-Project-Pele-Microreactor
- https://www.powermag.com/project-pele-dods-htgr-mobile-nuclear-microreactor-breaks-ground
Key Organizations
Developer
US Department of Defense
Power Purchase Agreements1 PPA
US DoD / military
announcedFederal Funding
DOE
DOE Funding ·
DoD funded
—
awarded
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Idaho