The US Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DOD) on Sunday (15) carried out the air transfer of a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, marking the first operation of its kind in the country.
The initiative seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of rapidly deploying this technology for military and civilian applications. This information was released by Reuters.
The equipment, developed by Valar Atomics, was transported aboard a C-17 military aircraft from March Air Force Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The device traveled without nuclear fuel.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey accompanied the operation.
Capacity and schedule
The transported model, called Ward, is about the size of a minivan and has a capacity of up to 5 MW, enough to power approximately 5 homes, according to the company.
The initial operation, scheduled for July, should begin with 100 kilowatts, reaching 250 kW later this year before gradually expanding to full capacity.
The Trump administration has championed the expansion of nuclear power generation as part of a strategy to increase electricity supply, meet national security demands, and support advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Authorities also confirmed negotiations with states, including Utah, to establish sites for reprocessing or permanent disposal of radioactive waste.
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