The race to deploy nuclear microreactor technology into the real world is moving from theory to practice.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has announced the first group of end-user experiments for the Microreactor Applied Research Validation and Evaluation Program, known as MARVEL, taking an important step toward accelerating next-generation nuclear energy.
This effort explores how micronuclear reactors can power AI-driven data centers, support remote autonomous operation, enable advanced reactor monitoring, and provide clean heat for industrial desalination, demonstrating how nuclear microreactors can reshape energy security, computing infrastructure, and water management in the coming years.
Testbed designed for real-world applications
At the center of this effort is MARVEL itself, a miniature nuclear microreactor being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The system uses a sodium-potassium refrigerant and is designed to produce approximately 85 kilowatts of thermal energy and up to 20 kilowatts of electrical output.
Although the reactor is modest in scale, it is purpose-built to demonstrate how microreactors can operate safely, reliably, and flexibly in demanding environments.
MARVEL will be installed at INL’s Transient Reactor Test Facility, giving private companies and research partners rare access to operating nuclear reactor microreactors.
This setup allows developers to go beyond simulations and laboratory models to test how advanced nuclear systems behave when connected to real equipment and real-world use cases.
Powering the next generation of data centers
One of the hottest applications is the use of nuclear microreactors to support data centers, especially those running artificial intelligence workloads.
These facilities require large amounts of stable, uninterrupted power, often in locations where traditional grid infrastructure is unreliable or non-existent.
Amazon Web Services will explore how MARVEL can be integrated into modular data centers designed to be rapidly deployed and self-sufficient.
Such systems can support defense, government, and emergency operations by providing computing power anywhere in the world without relying on diesel generators or fragile supply chains.
In a parallel effort, DCX USA and Arizona State University aim to study how microreactors can provide stable, continuous energy for the unique demands of AI processing.
Together, these projects could generate important data about how nuclear microreactors support the future of high-performance computing.
Promoting autonomous and remote operation of nuclear reactors
Beyond computing, MARVEL is also used to improve the way nuclear systems operate. GE Vernova will demonstrate concepts for remote and autonomous reactor control and help establish operating standards that can later be applied to commercial reactors.
This work is expected to demonstrate how microreactors can be monitored and managed with minimal on-site staffing, which is a key requirement for deployment in isolated or high-risk locations.
Sensors and safety at the forefront
Radiation Detection Technologies will focus on testing advanced sensor technologies using MARVEL.
These high-performance instruments are designed to monitor reactor behavior in real time, improving situational awareness and safety. Insights gained from this research may influence how nuclear microreactors are regulated, inspected, and maintained in the future.
Tackling water issues with nuclear heat
Another major application focuses on desalination and water treatment. Shepherd Power, NOV, and ConocoPhillips plan to use MARVEL’s process heat for pilot-scale desalination projects.
The goal is to demonstrate how nuclear microreactors can address produced water challenges in oil and gas operations where large amounts of contaminated water must be treated or disposed of.
If successful, this approach could provide a low-carbon solution for water management in energy-intensive industries.
From selection to demonstration
The team selected for MARVEL will work closely with experts from the DOE and national laboratories to refine the concept and evaluate technical feasibility.
This collaborative phase will determine which projects will advance to full-scale demonstration using nuclear reactors. A final agreement and confirmed demonstration is expected to be announced in 2026.
By opening MARVEL to industry and academic partners, INL is transforming nuclear microreactors from a promising concept into a practical tool.
The program highlights how advanced nuclear technologies can support AI leadership, industrial resiliency, and environmental solutions while strengthening America’s role as a global leader in nuclear innovation.
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