The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has announced the initial selections for its Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) end user experiments. This initiative aims to explore innovative applications of advanced nuclear technologies, demonstrating their potential in diverse fields such as desalination and powering data centers.
The five teams chosen through a competitive selection process will conduct experiments that highlight the capabilities of MARVEL, a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor developed by the Department of Energy. This microreactor, which is expected to produce 85 kilowatts of thermal energy and up to 20 kilowatts of electricity, will serve as a platform for the private sector to test new use cases that can enhance energy independence and efficiency.
Innovative Applications of Nuclear Technology
According to John Jackson, the national technical director for the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program, this initiative presents a unique opportunity for companies to explore the role of microreactors in addressing critical challenges. He stated, “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.”
The selected teams will collaborate with experts from the Department of Energy and national laboratories to develop implementation plans for their proposed projects. Here are the teams and their project objectives:
– **Amazon Web Services Inc.** aims to integrate the MARVEL reactor with a modular data center, enabling rapid deployment and operation independent of traditional power infrastructure. This could significantly benefit defense and government agencies.
– **DCX USA** and **Arizona State University** plan to showcase the feasibility of powering a data center for artificial intelligence using MARVEL. Their project seeks to provide insights into maintaining a stable power supply for AI processing requirements.
– **General Electric Vernova** intends to utilize MARVEL to demonstrate remote and autonomous reactor operations. This project will focus on establishing control standards for broader applications across commercial reactors.
– **Radiation Detection Technologies Inc.** will test advanced high-performance sensor technologies with MARVEL, aimed at monitoring the performance of innovative nuclear reactors.
– **Shepherd Power**, along with **NOV** and **ConocoPhillips**, proposes a pilot-scale desalination project using nuclear-generated process heat. This initiative seeks to address water challenges in oil and gas operations, demonstrating the versatility of advanced nuclear energy.
The Future of Nuclear Energy
The MARVEL testbed, expected to be located at the Transient Reactor Test Facility at INL, represents a significant step forward in nuclear innovation. The initiative aligns with the Trump administration’s executive orders aimed at accelerating private sector innovation and commercial nuclear energy deployment.
The selected teams will coordinate closely with national laboratory experts to evaluate the feasibility of their applications. Final agreements for the proposed projects are anticipated to be announced in 2024. This initiative underscores the commitment to harnessing nuclear energy as a sustainable solution for various modern challenges, positioning the United States as a leader in energy innovation.
