DOE Identifies Tentative Site for Aalo-X Reactor at INL

We are excited to announce that the Battelle Energy Alliance and Department of Energy - Idaho Operations Office has identified a provisional 1-acre plot of land at the Idaho National Laboratory Site, close to the Materials and Fuels Complex—as the home for our Aalo-X experimental reactor.

With this landmark step, Aalo Atomics joins an exclusive group of innovators demonstrating their reactor at INL. Most developers are planning to perform experiments in existing facilities, but Aalo-X involves the construction of a new facility. This will enable the testing of not just the reactor and fuel performance, but also Aalo’s fully modular civil construction technology for the reactor building and balance of plant. This is critical, since the economics of factory mass manufactured reactors will be determined by the degree of modularity of the entire power plant, rather than the reactor alone.

This provisional site, coupled with our official DOE letter allowing Aalo to pursue DOE Authorization for the Aalo-X, clears the way to continue progressing toward rapid construction on the experimental reactor at this site within the next two years.

Aalo-X: Pioneering Nuclear Innovation at INL

The Aalo-X reactor is designed as an experimental platform that will provide invaluable insights for the commercial Aalo-1 reactor, slated for deployment in just a few years. Aalo-X will allow us to thoroughly test advanced safety mechanisms, validate fuel performance, optimize system efficiency, and determine capacity factor—each an essential step in scaling our reactors for widespread commercial use. The lessons learned at Aalo-X will feed directly into the future production, deployment, and operation of the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe sodium-cooled reactor, helping Aalo Atomics lead the way in affordable, scalable advanced nuclear technology.

Fast-Tracking Authorization

Aalo Atomics’ pathway to DOE authorization has an ambitious but achievable timeline. The MARVEL reactor project took approximately 2.5 years to progress from ideation to DOE approval for construction. Aalo Atomics is already one year into the design of Aalo-X, with a goal to start construction in 2026, positioning Aalo-X as a center for clean energy innovation.

The choice of this particular site beside the MFC brings distinct advantages. Already well-characterized from environmental, seismic, and cultural perspectives, the site will expedite our deployment process by allowing us to move forward without extensive preliminary assessments typically required for undisturbedland. This head start is invaluable as we pursue an accelerated timeline to build and operate the Aalo-X reactor.

Breaking New Ground with the Aalo-X and Aalo-1 Reactors

This secured plot for Aalo-X is only the beginning. Once operational, this experimental reactor will pave the way for the Aalo-1, our flagship commercial microreactor designed to bring clean, reliable, and cost-effective power to critical sectors, from data centers to industrial facilities. With its small footprint, inherent safety features, and modular design, the Aalo-1 is poised to meet the growing demand for reliable, carbon-free energy.

By progressing with the DOE authorization pathway for Aalo-X and leading into a commercial license with the NRC for Aalo-1, Aalo aims to pioneer a new model for rapid advanced nuclear deployment that will enable the US to iterate faster on the deployment of new nuclear technology.

This provisional site for Aalo-X represents a launchpad for the future of affordable and scalable nuclear power. We’re excited to share this journey with you as we continue making strides toward a clean energy future.

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About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation's center for nuclear energy research and development, celebrating 75 years of scientific innovations in 2024. The laboratory performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.