US-based Zeno Power is establishing a nuclear battery manufacturing facility at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California.

The company said it has partnered with NorthStar, a leader in nuclear decommissioning, to restore specialised hot cell infrastructure to produce nuclear batteries that will power critical defence, space, and commercial missions.

This lease agreement with NorthStar enables Zeno to fulfill initial deliveries to government customers in 2027 and then quickly scale production.

With more than $60m (€52m) in contracts with the Pentagon and Nasa, and strong follow-on demand from government and commercial partners, Zeno believes it is positioned to deliver nuclear batteries at scale beginning in 2028.