NUCLEAR POWER Direct

Welcome to the July issue of NUCLEAR POWER Direct, a monthly e-newsletter from POWER magazine that provides important nuclear power news and information, including articles on new technology, operations and maintenance best practices, industry trends, innovative projects, and much more.

Sign up to have future issues of NUCLEAR POWER Direct delivered directly to you via email.

POWER Magazine | Jobs | White Papers | Webinars | Events | Store |

Nuclear Developer Oklo Advances Dual Alliances Targeting Data Center and Industrial Power Needs | Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo entered into two separate high-profile collaborative agreements this week that seek to supply integrated energy solutions to data centers and large load industrial operations.The alliances—one with Liberty Energy, an energy services and technologies firm, and another with critical digital infrastructure provider Vertiv—mark the newest notch in the growing market for dispatchable, resilient, and efficient power and thermal management for hyperscale customers.

Westinghouse, Radiant Selected for First Fueled Nuclear Microreactor Tests at INL’s DOME Facility | Nuclear microreactors developed separately by Westinghouse and Radiant are poised to become the first fueled designs tested at the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility—the world’s first dedicated microreactor test bed slated to open at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in early 2026. The first fueled experiment is expected to begin as early as spring 2026.

PSC Greenlights Georgia Power Plan to Expand Coal, Gas, Nuclear, and Grid Infrastructure | The Georgia Public Service (PSC) Commission has unanimously approved Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), authorizing a massive energy expansion to accommodate what the utility calls “extraordinary” growth in electricity demand.

In Case You Missed It: DOE Pilot Program Targets Three Nuclear Test Reactors for 2026 Criticality Under Department Authorization | The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a novel pilot program that will allow private developers to build and operate full-scale advanced nuclear test reactors outside of the national laboratory system, without a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Through a new authorization model grounded in the Atomic Energy Act and a Trump-era executive order, the program seeks to bring at least three test reactors to criticality by July 4, 2026, using DOE-issued permits, private funding, and accelerated safety reviews.

Google Signs Deal to Buy Fusion Energy from Future Virginia Plant | Tech giant Google has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) to buy at least 200 MW of electricity from CFS’splanned fusion-based power plantin Chesterfield County, Virginia.

Westinghouse, ITER Sign $180-Million Contract to Advance Nuclear Fusion | Westinghouse Electric Co. and officials with the ITER project in France signed a contract for $180 million for the assembly of the vacuum vessel for the fusion reactor. This is a key milestone in the construction of the ITER reactor, leading the waytoward the use of fusion as a practical future source of reliable carbon-free energy.

Deadline vs. Deployment: Can U.S. Advanced Reactors Meet DOE’s 2026 Criticality Goal? | In a new pilot program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an ambitious challenge: bring at least three advanced nuclear test reactors to criticality by July 4, 2026. Announced in June, the program sidesteps traditional Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing, seeking instead to authorize full-scale reactors on private sites through DOE’s internal review process. While the initiative could serve as a proving ground for novel designs, it also raises questions.A crucial emerging concern is that the DOE’s pilot program deadline to achieve criticality—just 13 months away—represents an aggressive timeline.

Nuclear at Sea: Navigating Regulatory Confluence | A new paper titled “Facilitating Global Deployment of Floating Nuclear Power Plants” has been published by World Nuclear Association’s Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing (CORDEL) Working Group. This paper highlights the benefits of the technology and focuses on progress made in the regulatory space, which is required for their international deployment.

Groups Partnering to Develop AI Software to Speed Nuclear Reactor Construction | A software group that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help automate processes said it was joining with a nuclear power deployment company on an AI-driven system to accelerate construction of nuclear reactors.

Why Nuclear Maintenance Equipment Requires a Single-Source Solution | There is no room for missteps, miscommunication, or misunderstandings when it comes to nuclear maintenance. It demands precision, speed, and accountability. The tools and systems used during outages must function flawlessly, because when they don’t, the cost is more than money—it’s exposure, downtime, and slipping maintenance schedules.

Mirion Technologies Launches Vital Platform for Nuclear Industry | Mirion Technologies, a leading provider of advanced radiation safety solutions, has announced the launch of the Vital Platform. This software offers a single, unified system for accessing data across nuclear power sites to work more efficiently, enhance worker safety, and solve operational challenges faster. The launch includes the platform’s first application, Vital Supervision, designed to enhance radiological instrument data visibility, improve response times, and simplify oversight across critical radiological systems.