The MCRE is being built in the zero-power physics reactor (ZPPR) cell within INL's Materials and Fuels Complex. Courtesy INL.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has approved cost-shared funding for an accelerated final stage of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) which aims to test and validate liquid chloride salt fuel technology.

The funding will support work by Southern Company, Idaho National Laboratory and Core Power to advance scientific understanding of molten salt reactor technology and inform future reactor development. MCRE is expected to achieve first criticality as early as 2027.