The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Foundation and MicroNuclear, LLC, have announced a collaboration to support the development of MicroNuclear’s Molten Salt Nuclear Battery (MsNB). The compact molten salt microreactor is being designed to deliver resilient electricity and process heat for a range of applications.
The collaboration will support the next phase of MsNB development, including detailed engineering, safety and licensing activities, prototype manufacturing, first-fission testing and development of a repeatable model for future deployment and commercialization. The agreement brings together complementary expertise across engineering, reactor technology, manufacturing, quality assurance, training, operations, and commercialization capabilities to support the next stage of MsNB development.
The team, comprised of INL Foundation, MicroNuclear, EXP, Premier Technology, Inc, and Porter House, will focus on accelerating technology maturation, documenting key design milestones, supporting applicable government review and regulatory pathways, and positioning the concept for future demonstration, deployment and commercial-scale adoption.
MicroNuclear is developing the cyber-protected MsNB, a compact, natural-circulation molten salt microreactor designed to support critical infrastructure, military and government facilities, remote or isolated grids, industrial process heat, and potential hydrogen production. The MsNB is envisioned as a safe, secure, sustainable, emissions-free, 20 MW thermal unit intended to operate at full power for an anticipated 10-year battery interval before returning to a centralized facility for fuel and salt recovery and recycling.
The INL Foundation will support early fundraising, help facilitate access to Idaho National Laboratory, and make information about the MsNB available through its investor events. Early contributions supporting MsNB testing may be eligible for tax-deductible treatment, subject to applicable requirements.
EXP, Premier Technology, Inc. and Porter House Inc. bring the integrated engineering, advanced manufacturing, nuclear quality assurance and deployment expertise needed to help advance MicroNuclear’s Molten Salt Nuclear Battery from concept toward demonstration and commercial readiness.
“We are well positioned to move the Molten Salt Nuclear Battery from a promising technology to a disciplined path toward engineering, testing, licensing, and eventual development,” CEO of MicroNuclear Paul Marotta said. “We’ve assembled an experienced team to deliver capabilities needed to advance the MsNB and help us achieve our goal of resilient, emissions-free power, and process heat where reliable energy is needed most.”
Testing is expected to be carried out at Idaho National Laboratory or other U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories through separate agreements.
The INL Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports the mission of the Idaho National Laboratory. It provides philanthropic investment to bridge the early costs of research and development in nuclear energy, national security, critical materials, and advanced energy.
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment.
MicroNuclear LLC is results focused, solving today’s energy problems with creative, market-relevant, emission-free, economical, cyber, physically and EMP protected microreactor solutions based on experience, engineering, and testing.
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