We are thrilled to unveil a groundbreaking partnership with Idaho Falls Power, launching an ambitious project that will revolutionize energy in the region. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets the stage for the deployment of seven factory-built Aalo-1 reactors, totaling 75 MW of power generation. This fleet of reactors will deliver clean, dependable power to Idaho Falls and will open the door for surrounding communities to harness the benefits of advanced nuclear technology.
The seven Aalo-1 reactors for this project will be constructed in our Austin Reactor Factory HQ. “The reactors for this project could be the first factory-built commercial microreactors in this country,” said Yasir Arafat, Chief Technical Officer of Aalo Atomics. “This approach will allow significantly higher predictability in quality, cost, and schedule than today’s large-scale plants, which, at best, take nearly a decade to build.”
We are proud to partner with Idaho Falls Power, supplying them with clean, reliable energy. This collaboration not only benefits the city but also opens doors to wider opportunities.
Idaho Falls Power is an ideal partner because of their forward-thinking approach. While they will use part of the 75 MW generated, the remaining power will be made available to surrounding municipalities and other commercial applications.
“In addition to producing power for the Idaho Falls community, we want this project to unlock additional markets for microreactors,” said Matt Loszak, CEO of Aalo. “This project invites other potential off-takers, including data center companies, who are eager to explore the full potential of fleets of small nuclear reactors to unlock the further acceleration of AI.”
The choice of Idaho Falls as the project’s site is strategic, building on the region’s rich history of nuclear innovation. As home to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the premier nuclear laboratory in the U.S., Idaho Falls has long been a center for nuclear advancements. The Aalo-1 reactors will continue this legacy, adding to the ongoing development in the area.
“This region has been at the forefront of nuclear technology for decades,” Arafat noted. “With several new reactor technologies under construction, Idaho Falls is an ideal place to move from research to deployment. Public support for nuclear is strong here, making it a perfect launchpad for our first deployment.”
Aalo Atomics is taking a thoughtful, phased approach to deployment, ensuring risk reduction at every stage. Aalo is currently working on the construction of a non-nuclear test reactor (Aalo-0), at its Austin HQ, and subsequently will build its first nuclear reactor at INL, called the Aalo Experimental reactor (Aalo-X). These initial steps will prove the technology and economics in a low-risk, incremental way. Inline with this development philosophy, the MOU stipulates that the project will only proceed to full construction once specific cost and uncertainty milestones are met, protecting both Aalo and Idaho Falls Power from potential setbacks. Aalo is pursuing other commercialization paths in parallel, and will announce at a future date how the relative timeline of these paths line up.
“This phased approach allows us to minimize risks while still pushing the boundaries with new nuclear technology,” said Matt Loszak. “We’ve built in multiple layers of risk reduction so that both partners can move forward with confidence.”
With this MOU in place, Aalo is moving forward with plans to secure regulatory approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The reactors will likely be built at Idaho Falls Power’s energy research park, with the project slated to go online before the end of the 2020’s. The partnership between Aalo Atomics and Idaho Falls Power marks the beginning of an exciting new era for nuclear energy in the region, with the potential for up to 80 years of collaboration.
By combining cutting-edge innovation and risk reduction, Aalo Atomics is setting a new standard in the nuclear energy industry—one that is rooted in collaboration.
