The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Houston-based Deployable Energy to conduct testing of its nuclear battery technology at Idaho National Laboratory. The company will utilize the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) testbed for a full-power evaluation scheduled for 2027.
Why It Matters
This selection marks another step in the federal government’s push to advance small modular reactor technology. Idaho National Laboratory remains the primary domestic site for testing next-generation nuclear systems, reinforcing the state’s role as a hub for energy innovation and grid resilience.
What Happened
The Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) chose Deployable Energy from a competitive pool of applications submitted in July 2026. The company will test its Nuclear Unity Battery, a transportable microreactor that uses light-water moderation and helium cooling.
The reactor is designed to generate 1 megawatt-electric (MWe). This upcoming test builds upon previous work supported by the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program, which helped the company achieve zero-power criticality. The new campaign will evaluate system performance, integration, controls, safety protocols, and operational procedures at a larger scale.
Deployable Energy is self-funding the testing campaign. To maintain its allotted time in DOME, the company must meet specific milestones related to technology readiness, fuel availability, and regulatory approval plans.
By The Numbers
- 1 MWe: Designed power generation capacity of the Nuclear Unity Battery.
- 20 megawatts: Maximum thermal energy production capacity for experiments in DOME.
- April 2026: Month and year DOME opened at Idaho National Laboratory.
- July 2026: Month Deployable Energy submitted its application for testing.
- 2027: Year scheduled for the full-power test.
Zoom Out
DOME, which opened in April 2026, is the world’s first microreactor testbed designed to safely house fueled reactor experiments. Deployable Energy will be the second company to test technology in the facility, following Radiant, which completed the first-ever test in DOME.
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Chimi Zacot emphasized the agency’s broader goals regarding nuclear infrastructure.
“The Department of Energy is committed to getting more nuclear power onto the grid,” Zacot said.
Brad Tomer, director of the NRIC, noted the growing interest from private industry in utilizing the Idaho facility.
“We have a strong pipeline of companies interested in the DOME – and that’s exactly the kind of momentum we want to see,” Tomer said.
What’s Next
Deployable Energy must now navigate regulatory approvals and secure fuel supplies ahead of the 2027 testing window. The company will proceed with preparations while adhering to the milestone requirements set by the NRIC to ensure continued access to the DOME testbed.
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