US-based nuclear power and nuclear fuel recycling company Oklo is participating in the US Department of Energy Voucher Program, which is expected to support the evaluation and testing of advanced structural material for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse.
Oklo is developing the Aurora microreactor, which uses heat pipes to transport heat from the reactor core to a supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion system to generate electricity. It will use high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel. Oklo says the reactor builds on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) and space reactor legacy. Oklo initially marketed a 1.5 MWe microreactor version of the Aurora, but has now expanded its capacity offerings from 15 MWe to 100 MWe.
The Energy Voucher Program is part of the Technology Commercialisation Fund and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, It aims to enhance efficiencies in manufacturing, supply chain, and overall scalability as Oklo accelerates the deployment of its commercial powerhouses. ENERGYWERX will manage the DOE’s Voucher Program in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
The collaboration leverages DOE-funded vouchers to conduct advanced material characterisation and real-world testing to validate high-performance materials that will support Oklo’s fast reactor designs. Oklo says the project builds on decades of operational data from fast reactor systems to unlock additional performance, optimise manufacturing processes, and enhance supply chain robustness.
“This project helps us refine proven fast reactor technologies to deliver scalable, cost-effective clean energy solutions that empower our customers to meet their energy goals sustainably,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo. “With 14 gigawatts of announced customers and partners in our pipeline, we believe we are well positioned to address growing energy demands across diverse applications.”
DOE’s Voucher Program connects companies such as Oklo with National Laboratories to help advance research and develop activities. Through in-kind support, the programme provides access to testing facilities, expert consultation, and analytical resources.
“Through connecting organisations to the support they need, we believe these collaborations will deliver clean energy solutions that benefit communities across the country,” said Dr Vanessa Z Chan, Chief Commercialisation Officer and Director of the DOE Office of Technology Transitions.
