The archive · Space, Robots, Defence · Strategic decision · 2013–2026
Oklo's fast reactor bet: INL groundbreaking, Switch 12 GW, NRC approval
Oklo bets compact sodium-cooled fast reactors using recycled fuel can scale cheaply: INL groundbreaking, Switch 12 GW, NRC approval.
Oklo Inc.
What the business is
Design, build, and operate 50–75 MWe sodium-cooled metallic-fuel fast reactors, the 'Aurora powerhouse', while also developing spent fuel recycling and medical isotope production.
How it started
Oklo was founded in 2013 by Jacob DeWitte and others with MIT nuclear engineering backgrounds, betting that small fast reactors could be deployed quickly using the design legacy of EBR-II (a breeder reactor that operated at the same site from 1964 to 1994). In 2019 it received DOE site use authorization at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and a HALEU fuel allocation; in March 2020 it submitted the first COLA for an advanced non-light-water reactor; in January 2022 the application was rejected by the NRC.
What happened
After the rejection, Oklo continued engaging with the NRC: on December 18, 2024, it signed a non-binding master power purchase agreement with data center operator Switch for 12 GW (deployment before 2044), which the company described as 'selling power, not power plants'. In July 2025, the NRC completed the pre-application readiness assessment for the first phase of the new Aurora-INL COLA; in August, the DOE reactor pilot program selected three Oklo projects (3 of 11), and the INL project shifted to the DOE authorization pathway, targeting criticality before July 4, 2026; on September 22, the 75 MWe Aurora-INL broke ground, and on September 5 the company also announced the construction in Oak Ridge, United States, of the first privately funded spent fuel recycling facility (first-phase investment $1.68B).
How it ended up
Not yet built: as of mid-2026, Aurora-INL is under construction led by Kiewit, with the company targeting operation at the end of 2027 to early 2028; in May 2026, the NRC approved Aurora's topical report on key design criteria (PDC) at an accelerated pace. The company is still financing expansion, and no reactor is operating.
Background
Oklo, founded 2013 in Santa Clara, bets on replicable small nuclear: 50–75 MWe sodium-cooled metallic-fuel 'Aurora' reactor, using EBR-II design legacy, recycled fuel and HALEU. Groundbreaking at INL Sept 22, 2025; announced first privately funded spent fuel recycling facility; NRC approved key design criteria May 2026.
Regulatory innovation: first DOE site authorization (2019), first advanced COLA (2020), rejected Jan 2022. Changed pathway: continued Part 52, completed pre-application readiness July 2025, selected for DOE pilot Aug 2025; Aurora-INL targets criticality before July 4, 2026.
Demand: Dec 2024 signed 12 GW non-binding agreement with Switch (delivery before 2044); business model 'selling power, not plants'. Kiewit general contractor; ~70% components from non-nuclear supply chains; operation target end 2027–early 2028; Oak Ridge recycling first phase $1.68B, exploring TVA spent fuel.
As of mid-2026, no operating reactors; NRC approved PDC topical report in 15 days (accelerated). Bet not yet paid off—real test is criticality on schedule and replicable DOE pathway.
What has to be true
- Recycled fuel: fast reactors consume spent fuel and HALEU, turning waste into fuel—a cost and supply edge.
- Regulatory innovation: first DOE site authorization, first advanced COLA; approval as first-mover advantage.
- After rejection, changed pathway: shifted to DOE pilot and Part 52 licensing, making regulation a core variable.
- Demand anchored by data center orders: 12 GW Switch framework and 2.1 GW pipeline proved 'selling power'.
- Risk remains: bet hinges on first reactor operation in 2027–2028 and recycled fuel supply chain.
What can be applied
Regulatory veto need not kill a product; change pathway and customers. Oklo shifted from selling reactors to selling power, using pilot programs and data center orders.
Aftermath
As of 2026-09-01: Aurora-INL is under construction at INL (Kiewit as general contractor), targeting commercial operation from late 2027 to early 2028; on the fuel side, the Aurora fuel fabrication facility (A3F) at INL is undergoing the DOE safety analysis process, planning to use 5 tons of HALEU left over from EBR-II. The Oak Ridge recycling facility is in the early stages, and cooperation with TVA is still under discussion. After the NRC approved the PDC topical report in May 2026, the company continued advancing the Phase 1 COLA. No electricity revenue has been generated.
Sources
- Oklo Advances Licensing with Completion of NRC Readiness Assessment
- Oklo breaks ground at INL on Aurora reactor
- Oklo Breaks Ground on INL Nuclear Fast Reactor Project, Launches Private Fuel Recycling Facility
- Another Big Data Center Win for Nuclear: Oklo and Switch Sign Historic 12 GW Deal
- Oklo's NRC Principal Design Criteria Topical Report Approved for Aurora Powerhouse in Idaho
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