Nuclear energy innovation advances with microreactor tests and fusion investment

Developments in nuclear energy are accelerating through both microreactor technology and fusion research. Houston-based Deployable Energy has been selected to test its Nuclear Unity Battery at the Idaho National Laboratory in 2027. This transportable microreactor is designed to provide 1 MW of continuous electricity for industrial and remote applications. Following a successful zero-power criticality test in June, the 2027 trial will test the system at full operational power.

Simultaneously, the nuclear fusion sector is seeing record investment, with private funding reaching $3.8 billion in the first eight months of the year. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, startup Pacific Fusion has broken ground on a new testing facility. Major tech figures and companies, including Google, Nvidia, and Sam Altman, are investing heavily in fusion to meet the massive energy demands of artificial intelligence. For instance, Helion Energy aims to supply electricity to Microsoft by 2028.