US-based Oklo has received Letters of Intent (LOIs) and is partnering with two major data centre providers to deliver up to 750 MWe for data centres across the US. Oklo said these commitments expand its customer pipeline to approximately 2,100 MWe.
Under these LOIs, Oklo will work with one of the fastest-growing data centre companies to deploy its powerhouses in select markets. According to Oklo, this collaboration supports its expanding footprint, including its announced sites in Idaho, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming.
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. EBR-II features a hexagonal fuel element with a sealed heat pipe and a passive air-cooling system. 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.
Oklo received a site permit in 2019 from DOE to build its first Aurora facility at INL. In 2020, Oklo submitted a combined licence application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build and operate the facility. However, NRC denied the application, citing the company’s failure to provide sufficient design information. A revised application was submitted in September 2022.
“The strong customer response reflects confidence in Oklo’s clean, reliable, and affordable power solutions,” said Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo. “Our approach helps enable customers to scale sustainably with reliable power aligned to their long-term goals.” By building, owning, and operating each powerhouse, Oklo makes it easier for customers to adopt nuclear power generation while creating a steady revenue stream by selling power, not power plants.
In April, Oklo signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with oil and gas producer Diamondback Energy to enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). In May a similar non-binding LOI was signed with Wyoming Hyperscale to supply 100 MWe to a data centre campus.
