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NANO Nuclear - UIUC

📍 Urbana, IL (Champaign County Co.)Developer: NANO Nuclear EnergyVendor / Tech: NANO Nuclear Energy
Capacity
5 MW
Expected Operation
2028
Reactor Type
NANO Nuclear KRONOS MMR
Regulatory Status
NRC construction permit application docketed 2026-05-18; NRC formal review under way (environmental assessment expected spring 2027, safety evaluation early fall 2027)

Details

Primary Use
Research / demonstration
Grid Connection
MISO
Construction Start
2028

Research detail · verified 2026-10-10

Stage
Application under NRC review
Commercial power
No (test, research, military or demonstration)
NRC docket
50-618
Stated target operation
2030 (stated by UIUC Grainger NPRE, 2026-03 CPA announcement)
Key dates
2026-03-31 CP application submitted (per UIUC/NANO); 2026-05-18 NRC docketed; 2026-06 NRC review kickoff meeting; 2026-07-27 hearing-request deadline; 2027 NRC review completion expected; H2 2027 construction start targeted
Workforce
UIUC states the reactor will be used for operator and technician training to help Illinois and the U.S. meet nuclear workforce needs; run with UIUC Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
Not verified / conflicts
Date conflicts: Federal Register says application dated 2026-03-27, UIUC/NANO say submitted 2026-03-31. Acceptance: Federal Register says docketed 2026-05-18 (NANO 2026-06-25 release also says 05-18); WNN says accepted 2026-05-21; NANO 2026-05-20 release gives no date. NRC news releases (nrc.gov) returned 403.
Sources
  1. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-26/html/2026-10419.htm
  2. https://npre.illinois.edu/news/stories/imdp-cpa
  3. https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/298134/NANO-Nuclears-KRONOS-MMRTM-and-the-University-of-Illinois-UrbanaChampaign-Advance-to-Next-Regulatory-Milestone-as-U.S.-NRC-Formally-Accepts-Construction-Permit-Application-for-Review
  4. https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/302830/NANO-Nuclears-KRONOS-MMRTM-Program-Advances-as-U.S.-NRC-Initiates-Formal-Review-Activities-with-University-of-Illinois-UrbanaChampaign-and-NANO-Nuclear-Energy
  5. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/microreactor-application-accepted-for-review-by-us-regulator
  6. https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/science-technology/2026/07/09/ui-campus-to-receive-first-of-its-kind-nuclear-reactor/
  7. https://www.ans.org/news/2026-04-02/article-7904/uiuc-submits-mmr-construction-permit-application/

About

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Key Organizations

Developer
NANO Nuclear Energy

Power Purchase Agreements1 PPA

University of Illinois
announced
State Policy Context
View nuclear-related legislation and energy stats for Illinois
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