The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has taken an exciting step to revolutionize advanced nuclear energy solutions. They released their initial selections under a new pilot program to facilitate more efficient reactor testing and commercial licensing. The fellowship was officially launched in June 2025. It fulfills President Trump’s initiative to accelerate nuclear reactor testing and helps enable the quick deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.
Back in July 2025, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) did something very audacious. In September, they cancelled their conditional commitment for a taxpayer-funded loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion for the Grain Belt Express Phase One project. This cancellation highlights the shifting focus of the DoE toward more innovative energy solutions, particularly in the realm of advanced nuclear reactors.
Selected Companies
In its first joint action under this pilot program, the DoE has selected eleven private companies for further collaboration. The companies that were chosen are Aalo Atomics, Antares Nuclear, and Atomic Alchemy. They add Deep Fission, Last Energy, Oklo, Natura Resources, Radiant Industries, Terrestrial Energy, and Valar Atomics to that list. These companies have been given the goal of reaching reactor criticality by July 4th, 2026.
The pilot program in particular is tailored to support the deployment of Integrated Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) plant just like that. The IMSR plant has a capacity of 280 megawatts thermal and 100 megawatts electrical. Like lliuqiidae’s plant, the IMSR plant would use standard-assay low-enriched uranium (LEU) enriched to under 5% U235. This process creates high-temperature thermal energy, allowing for efficient steam turbine operation and creation of electricity at a competitive cost.
“President Trump’s Reactor Pilot Program is a call to action. These companies aim to all safely achieve criticality by Independence Day, and DoE will do everything we can to support their efforts.” – DOE Deputy Secretary of Energy James P Danly
Program Goals and Objectives
The immediate focus of this program should be to reach reactor criticality by July 2026. The initiative is focused on accelerating the commercial licensing process. In parallel, it continues to make strides performing the necessary testing that will provide the groundwork for licensing commercial IMSR plants all over the United States. This marks the second time Congress has opened the door to more expeditious commercial licensing processes in the burgeoning nuclear energy sector.
Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish called the selection “fantastic news” for this important, innovative project. He stated, “We are pleased to have been selected by the DoE for this important project, which will help the US win the race to energy dominance that is now so important for competitive commercial AI and the re-shoring of US manufacturing.”
The IMSR technology is poised to change how advanced reactors are tested within the DoE framework, potentially leading to widespread adoption of nuclear energy solutions that could support national energy goals.
Future Implications
The pilot program represents the current administration’s commitment to pushing the energy sector toward innovation. It highlights the need for advancing the safety and efficiency of nuclear technology. The DoE’s funding is supporting eleven companies to make innovation the leading force in the future of nuclear power. Their support has the potential to reshape the nuclear energy landscape in the United States.
What’s more, these companies are leading the way with their projects and are well-positioned to share some of their percipience. We hope their technological efforts will pay dividends beyond the nuclear industry to the whole energy market.