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First TRISO Fuel Delivery Reaches INL for Project Pele Microreactor

The shipment positions the Strategic Capabilities Office project for on-site handling ahead of test integration at Idaho facilities.

INL operations staff members prepare to unload casks containing TRISO fuel that will power Project Pele.
Officials at Idaho National Laboratory celebrate the first delivery of TRISO fuel for use in microreactors. Each TRISO particle is about the size of a poppy seed, but it’s engineered with three protective layers — hence the name TRi-structural ISOtropic. These layers make it resilient to extreme heat, radiation and corrosion, so much so that TRISO fuel cannot melt in a reactor and can withstand temperatures far beyond what traditional nuclear fuels can handle.

Overview

  • Idaho National Laboratory received the first casks of TRISO particle fuel for Project Pele this week, a milestone that enables the transportable microreactor demonstration to move forward, and a single cask holds more than one-fourth of the fuel required.
  • The Strategic Capabilities Office leads the effort with BWX Technologies, the Department of Energy and INL, and the delivery was marked by remarks from Army, DOE and BWXT leaders at an INL event.
  • Designed to provide assured, carbon-free power in remote locations and contested logistics environments, the microreactor is intended to strengthen energy resilience for Army missions.
  • TRISO fuel comprises poppy seed–sized uranium kernels encased in multiple ceramic layers, including silicon carbide, which enhances durability under high heat, radiation and corrosive conditions.
  • Program officials said completing production and delivering the first batch accelerates preparation for the demonstration and supports private-sector investment goals, with Army leaders pointing to a follow-on Janus program for installation power.