Feature image credits: Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor, a cross-section of which is shown here, is one of two microreactors that will be tested by the U.S. Department of Energy. Westinghouse Electric Company.
The race to meet the soaring energy demands of AI technologies and data centres is driving innovation at an unprecedented pace. One of the most exciting developments is the rise of microreactors — compact, transportable nuclear reactors capable of generating up to 10 megawatts of electricity. Unlike traditional large-scale plants, microreactors are designed for factory production and easy deployment to even the most remote locations. Their flexibility, scalability, and rapid installation capabilities position them as a game-changing solution for powering the next generation of technological infrastructure.
Governments are responding swiftly to this opportunity. In the United States, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act mandates a modernized and expedited licensing framework for microreactors, while projects like Project Pele and the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program aim to unlock their full potential for both civilian and defense applications. The momentum behind microreactor technology is stronger than ever, and the commitment to balancing innovation with safety and regulatory rigor is clear.
I am genuinely excited about the rapid progress in this field. Our team has proudly contributed to the advancement of microreactor technology through two key publications addressing materials challenges:
Parkison, D., Tunes, M.A., Nizolek, T.J., Saleh, T.A., Hosemann, P., Kohnert, C.A. (2024). Fabrication of bulk delta-phase Zirconium Hydride from Zircaloy-4 for use as moderators in microreactors, Scripta Materialia, 239, 115771.
DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2023.115771
Tunes, M.A., Parkison, D., Huang, Y., Chancey, M.R., Vogel, S.C., Mehta, V.K., Torrez, M.A., Luther, E.P., Valdez, J.A., Wang, Y., et al. (2024). Challenges in developing materials for microreactors: A case-study of yttrium dihydride in extreme conditions, Acta Materialia, 280, 120333. DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120333
For a broader perspective on regulatory developments and the promising future of microreactors, I highly recommend reading the recent article by Morgan Lewis, available here.
Materials at Extremes 