Move is part of preparations for operating demonstrator Aalo-X reactor
US-based advanced nuclear company Aalo Atomics has shipped the first five nuclear reactor test modules for its Aalo-0 prototype to a test site at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a statement said.
The company said the full-scale non-nuclear prototype modules will be used for engineering-scale testing, including integral effects tests and steam production, as part of preparations for operating its demonstrator Aalo-X reactor.
The shipment is part of Aalo’s plan to reach first criticality in 2026, the company said.
Aalo said the completed modules demonstrate its approach to standardised manufacturing and onsite assembly of nuclear plant components.
The Aalo-0 prototype is intended to validate the design and manufacturing processes ahead of operation of the Aalo-X pilot reactor.
The company has previously said the facility, a 10-MW sodium-cooled test reactor, is the first step towards its planned line of “extra-modular reactors” (XMRs), which it said is a new category of modular reactor designed to bridge the gap between microreactors and small modular reactors (SMRs).
The Idaho test programme is a precursor to Aalo’s first commercial product, the Aalo Pod, which the company announced in April and has said is designed to supply power to energy-intensive users such as data centres
The Aalo Pod design is based on pods containing five factory-built, 10-MW Aalo-1 XMRs arranged around a single turbine to produce 50 MW. According to Aalo, each Aalo-1 reactor uses liquid sodium metal coolant, which allows for higher energy density than conventional water-cooled reactors.
Aalo said earlier it has completed a conceptual design review, secured site allocation at INL, received environmental approvals and opened a pilot factory in Austin to build reactor modules.
The US DOE selected Aalo among 10 advanced reactor developers under its reactor pilot programme announced in June 2025 following an executive order by president Trump which reforms reactor testing at the department.
The DOE said at the time it would consider advanced reactors that have a reasonable chance to operate by the 4 July 2026 deadline.
Aalo, which was founded in 2023 in Austin, Texas, said it has secured over $136m (€116m) in funding to date from multiple investors.
