Name of the Project
Project Pele.

Location
Idaho, in the US.

Project Owner/s
The US Department of Defence (DoD), partnering with the US Department of Energy (DoE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Project Description
Project Pele is a mobile microreactor programme that entails the development of small, mobile nuclear reactors as part of a two-step plan towards achieving nuclear power for US armed forces at home and abroad.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Completion of both phases will take 24 months.

Latest Developments
The DoD, acting through the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) and with the DoE as a cooperating agency, has released a draft environmental-impact statement (EIS) for the construction and demonstration phase of a prototype mobile microreactor. There will be a  public comment period – from September 24 until November 9 – on the draft EIS and SCO envisages making the final EIS available in January 2022.

Earlier this year, the SCO selected BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy to develop a final design for the prototype mobile microreactor, which is to be an advanced gas-cooled reactor using high-assay low-enriched uranium tristructural isotropic fuel capable of producing 1 MWe to 5 MWe.

The draft EIS analyses the potential environmental consequences of the proposed construction and demonstration of a prototype advanced mobile nuclear microreactor to support DoD domestic and operational energy demands. This includes construction of the prototype microreactor and demonstration activities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

According to the draft EIS, the mobile microreactor modules of the reactor will be manufactured at the commercial facilities of either either BWXT Advanced Technologies or X-energy. Fuel fabrication will be undertaken at BWXT facilities using existing DoE stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and depleted uranium. The final assembly and demonstration of the reactor will be undertaken at INL using DoE technical expertise and the facilities at the Materials and Fuels Complex, and the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
BWXT Advanced Technologies, Westinghouse Government Services of Washington and X-energy (individual design work); and BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy (final design for the prototype mobile microreactor).

Contact Details for Project Information
DoD press operations, tel +1703697 5131.