Idaho National Laboratory Selects Teams for Innovative MARVEL Experiments

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) announced on October 12, 2023, the selection of five teams for the Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) end-user experiments. These projects aim to explore various innovative applications of advanced nuclear technologies, including the desalination of water and the powering of data centers. This initiative positions the United States at the forefront of technological innovation, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence.

The MARVEL program is part of a broader strategy initiated during the Trump administration to promote private sector innovation in nuclear energy. John Jackson, the national technical director for the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program, emphasized the unique opportunity these experiments present. “With access to MARVEL, companies can explore how microreactors will potentially help us win the global AI race, solve water challenges and so much more,” he stated.

Overview of the MARVEL Microreactor

MARVEL is a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor developed by the Department of Energy, designed to generate 85 kilowatts of thermal energy and up to 20 kilowatts of electricity. Located at the Transient Reactor Test Facility at INL, MARVEL serves as a testbed where private sector entities can experiment with cutting-edge nuclear energy applications. The selected teams will collaborate with Department of Energy and national laboratory staff to develop implementation plans for their respective projects.

The selected teams include:

– **Amazon Web Services Inc.**: This team aims to integrate the MARVEL reactor with a modular data center. This initiative would facilitate the establishment of data centers that are self-sustaining and can be deployed quickly, independent of traditional power sources.

– **DCX USA and Arizona State University**: These partners plan to explore the feasibility of using MARVEL for powering a data center specifically designed for artificial intelligence, providing insights on stable power supply requirements for AI processing.

– **General Electric Vernova**: This team intends to demonstrate remote and autonomous reactor operations, establishing control standards applicable to commercial reactors.

– **Radiation Detection Technologies Inc.**: Their project focuses on utilizing MARVEL to test advanced sensor technologies for monitoring the performance of next-generation reactors.

– **Shepherd Power, NOV, and ConocoPhillips**: This collaboration plans a pilot-scale desalination project, leveraging nuclear-generated process heat to tackle water challenges prevalent in oil and gas operations.

Next Steps for Selected Teams

Each team will coordinate closely with experts at INL to evaluate the feasibility of their proposed applications. This collaboration may pave the way for demonstration opportunities using the MARVEL microreactor. Final agreements regarding these projects are expected to be announced in 2024, marking a significant step forward in the integration of nuclear technology into various sectors.

The MARVEL initiative exemplifies how advanced nuclear energy can contribute to innovative solutions for contemporary challenges, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to leading in technology and sustainability.