Deployable Energy Reaches Criticality Milestone at Idaho National Laboratory

The Unity reactor reached the state of criticality—a controlled, self-sustaining chain reaction—following a rapid startup program developed in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory. This milestone validates the design of the company’s 1 MWe water-moderated, gas-cooled nuclear battery. The project successfully hit the Administration’s target of seeing three reactors reach criticality by July 4, 2026, a timeline critics previously labeled unachievable.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who inspected the facility ahead of the test, framed the result as a centerpiece of the current nuclear renaissance. According to CEO Bobby Gallagher, the speed of the execution was made possible by leveraging existing fuel supply chains and the specialized infrastructure at the laboratory. Dr. John Wagner, director of the Idaho National Laboratory, noted that the 150-day turnaround set a new performance benchmark for the advanced nuclear sector.

With the core now active, the project moves into a rigorous phased testing program. Engineers will focus on validating reactor physics, inherent safety features, and load-following capabilities. This data collection is designed to support future licensing and commercialization, as the company seeks to transition from experimental projects to the mass manufacturing of deployable power units for remote industrial and defense applications.