BWX Technologies' Project Pele Starts Core Manufacturing

BWX Technologies, Inc. announced that work has commenced to fabricate the reactor core for the Pele microreactor at its BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. Pele is a 1.5-megawatt demonstration microreactor for the Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office. The technology is expected to begin producing electricity in 2028.

The Pele microreactor is gas-cooled and designed to be transportable. The reactor and its associated systems fit into four 20-foot-long shipping containers, making it ideal to be delivered to military bases and other installations, providing resilient and reliable electricity for up to three years without refueling.

“We are proud to develop and deliver the Pele microreactor for the benefit of our armed forces,” said Kate Kelly, president for BWXT Advanced Technologies. “This is a tremendous achievement for the BWXT team and for the advancement of groundbreaking nuclear energy technology as a reliable, resilient source of electricity and heat for multiple applications.”

Pele will be powered by TRISO fuel, a specific design of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel that can withstand extreme heat and has very low environmental risks. BWXT has completed fabricating the TRISO nuclear fuel for the reactor and will ship it to Idaho National Lab in the months ahead.

Rolls-Royce is developing the power conversion module at its LibertyWorks facility in Indianapolis. The power conversion system is a critical component that enables the microreactor to reliably produce mission-assured electric power in remote or contested environments.

Northrop Grumman is providing the control module for the reactor.

Project Pele began in 2016 following a DoD study that identified a growing need for additional power resources for the military in the future. The SCO awarded BWXT the contract to build the prototype reactor in 2022.

Executive Order (EO) 14299, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security,” signed in May, calls for a program using advanced nuclear technology for both installation and operational energy. The EO directs the DoD to commence the operation of a nuclear reactor, regulated by the United States Army, at a domestic military base or installation no later than Sept. 30, 2028. The Pele reactor has the strongest potential to fulfill that objective.

Transportable microreactors deliver power where and when it is needed in a variety of austere conditions for not only the DoD, but also potential commercial applications for disaster response and recovery and power generation at remote locations.