(IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO) – The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center selected Deployable Energy to test the company’s nuclear battery technology inside the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments, or DOME, testbed at the Idaho National Laboratory in 2027.
Houston-based Deployable Energy plans to complete a full-power test of its Nuclear Unity Battery, a light-water moderated, helium-cooled transportable microreactor designed to generate 1 MWe. The test builds on the company’s earlier work achieving zero-power criticality through Nuclear Energy Launch Pad and will provide an opportunity to evaluate system performance, integration, controls, safety and operational procedures at increased scale.
“The Department of Energy is committed to getting more nuclear power onto the grid,” said acting deputy assistant secretary for Nuclear Reactors Chimi Zacot. “Testing at facilities like DOME is how we move these technologies closer to deployment — and closer to our goal of delivering affordable, reliable, and secure electricity for hardworking Americans.”
Deployable Energy was competitively selected from the most recent round of applications, submitted in July 2026. Their testing campaign is self-funded. The company’s experiment timeline is based on criteria including technology readiness, fuel availability and regulatory approval plans. The company must meet specific milestones throughout the process to maintain its allotted time in DOME and ensure efficient use of the test bed.
“We have a strong pipeline of companies interested in the DOME — and that’s exactly the kind of momentum we want to see,” said Brad Tomer, NRIC director. “It shows that developers recognize the value of the resources and data this testing capability provides as they push toward commercialization.”
Opened in April of 2026, DOME is the world’s first microreactor test bed designed to safely house and test fueled reactor experiments producing up to 20 megawatts of thermal energy. Tests completed in DOME will help innovators move their reactor designs from theoretical concepts to commercial products. Deployable Energy will be the second-ever company to test its technology in DOME following the first-ever test completed by Radiant.
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Joelyn Hansen, 208-201-7650, joelyn.hansen@inl.gov
Sarah Neumann, 208-520-1651, sarah.neumann@inl.gov
