A small nuclear reactor developed by Antares Nuclear has achieved first criticality on June 4, marking a significant milestone in the development of small modular reactors. According to reports from Business Standard, the Mark-0 demonstration reactor started a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction a month ahead of schedule, as encouraged by President Donald Trump's push for private sector nuclear development. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described June 4 as 'a historic day in the American nuclear renaissance'.
The US is positioning these small reactors for global markets, particularly India, as reported by Business Standard. Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, confirmed that there will be 'an appetite for small modular reactors and even potentially microreactors' in India. The microreactors under development have capacity to generate power in the range of a few hundred kilowatts to 1.2 megawatts (MW) and can be assembled and flown in an aircraft for deployment anywhere in the world. India's recent SHANTI Act passed in December opened the atomic energy sector to private players, aligning with global practices.
India has set an ambitious target to produce 100 GW of power using nuclear fuels by 2047, representing a significant increase from the present capacity of about 9 GW, as reported by Business Standard. The country aims to achieve this through a mix of large reactors and small modular reactors for energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement. India is developing three different types of small modular reactors (SMRs), including the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), 55 MWe SMR, and 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor for hydrogen production.
Last year, Trump signed executive orders to remove regulatory barriers in new nuclear technology development, granting the Department of Energy authority to approve advanced reactor designs previously handled by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to Business Standard. The Antares reactor is the first among three small reactors to demonstrate new nuclear capabilities in the US by July 4, with the other two being the eVinci developed by Westinghouse and Kaleidos by Radiant. Korsnick noted that fracking technologies made gas the preferred choice for power generation, leading to stagnation in the nuclear sector over the past 30-plus years.
Nuclear technologies are being positioned for multiple applications beyond traditional electricity generation, as reported by Business Standard. Korsnick highlighted that nuclear power can provide high temperature steam for industrial processes, hydrogen production for various industrial uses, and electricity generation. The Antares reactor is the first among three small reactors to demonstrate new nuclear capabilities in the US by July 4, with the other two being the eVinci developed by Westinghouse and Kaleidos by Radiant.
