Mirion Backs Four Advanced Reactor Criticality Milestones Under DOE…

Event summary

Mirion's Mirion Technologies and Paragon Energy Solutions supported four advanced reactor designs that achieved criticality under the U.S. DOE Reactor Pilot Program.
The program, established under Executive Order 14301, aimed to bring at least three advanced reactor designs to criticality by July 4, 2026.
Mirion provided products, systems, and expertise in reactor protection, neutron flux monitoring, radiation monitoring, health physics, radiation protection, and radiochemistry.
The DOE program initially selected 11 projects, with four achieving the criticality milestone.

The big picture

The success of the DOE Reactor Pilot Program highlights the potential for accelerated development and deployment of advanced nuclear technology in the U.S. The collaboration between government, national laboratories, and industry demonstrates a shared commitment to advancing nuclear energy. This milestone is significant as it proves that ambitious schedules can be achieved safely, setting a precedent for future projects.

What we're watching

Deployment Pace: The pace at which advanced nuclear technology moves from demonstration to broad deployment.
Industry Collaboration: Whether the collaboration between government, national laboratories, and industry can sustain the momentum achieved in this program.
Regulatory Compliance: How regulatory compliance will affect the scaling of advanced reactor technologies.