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Advanced nuclear energy company Oklo recently secured a trio of federal approvals, marking a significant step toward advanced reactor development (American Nuclear Society).

What’s going on: The Idaho-based firm last week “announced that it has received two nuclear safety design agreement (NSDA) approvals from the [Department of Energy] and a materials license from the [Nuclear Regulatory Commission].”

• The agreements are to support the building and operation of Oklo’s first reactor, the Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory and the Groves Isotopes Test Reactor in Texas, which is being built by Oklo subsidiary Atomic Alchemy.
• Both projects are part of the DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program, an effort to boost and speed up U.S. nuclear energy production.
• Oklo also announced last week that it had received a materials license from the NRC “allowing it to handle, process, manufacture and distribute a limited amount of select isotopes.”

What’s next: With the NSDAs approved, the Aurora Powerhouse and the Groves Isotopes Test Reactor can both enter “the next phase of project execution under DOE oversight,” according to Oklo.

The last word: “As energy demand ramps up, nuclear is going to play an even bigger role in supplying energy to Americans and our allies,” said NAM Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin.

• “These projects from Oklo will help bring clean, plentiful, reliable power online—soon.”