Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Deployable Energy’s Unity reactor has successfully completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory, becoming the third advanced reactor to reach criticality by the July 4th deadline set by President Trump in a 2025 executive order, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
This milestone fulfills a DOE directive to revitalize nuclear energy innovation in the United States. Previously, Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 and Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactors also achieved criticality under the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, making the U.S. the first country to do so with three unique advanced microreactor designs within one month.
Unity is the first project under the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative to reach this milestone. Managed by the National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory, the initiative accelerates certification and construction of advanced nuclear technologies for demonstration.
DOE Secretary Chris Wright called the achievement a significant milestone enabled by President Trump’s vision, highlighting the potential of advanced nuclear technologies to support American industry, energy security, and leadership in nuclear innovation.
Bobby Gallagher, Co-Founder and CEO of Deployable Energy, thanked the administration, DOE, Idaho National Laboratory, and his team for helping meet the ambitious goal safely and efficiently, underscoring the collaboration needed for such advancements.