U.S. Department of Energy Funding Accelerates World-First Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment
Key Highlights
- ➤DOE approves cost-shared funding for MCRE’s accelerated final development stage
- ➤MCRE could achieve first criticality as early as 2027
- ➤MCRE targets world-first fast-spectrum molten chloride reactor criticality
- ➤Experiment will generate operating data to inform reactor design and licensing
- ➤Southern Company, Idaho National Laboratory and CORE POWER are collaborating
Expert Statements
Jess Gehin, Associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science & Technology at Idaho National Laboratory
“MCRE will be the world's first fast-spectrum molten chloride reactor to achieve criticality. It will provide direct measurements of how this novel reactor behaves during sustained fission, data that until now, has come from models alone. Enhancing those models with real-world operating evidence will reduce uncertainty for future reactor designers and regulators.”
Mark S. Berry, Senior vice president of research, environment and sustainability at Southern Company
“Public-private partnerships play an essential role in advancing energy technologies from concept to demonstration. Through collaboration among DOE, Idaho National Laboratory and industry partners, MCRE will help expand knowledge of molten salt reactor technology and help reduce technical uncertainty for future developers. This type of collaboration allows organizations to share expertise, accelerate innovation and evaluate technologies that could help meet growing energy demand while supporting reliable, affordable energy for customers and communities.”
Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER
“New nuclear, like any truly transformative technology, requires vision and being in it for the long game. We first committed to building MCRE in 2020, and we are proud to now accelerate this world-first nuclear fuel cycle to criticality as early as 2027. The data generated by this unique experiment will help determine how we develop engineering, licensing and an entirely new supply chain to practical commercial deployment of fast-spectrum molten salt reactors. CORE POWER's role in this partnership is to help translate advanced reactor technology into deployable industrial systems and unique delivery mechanisms needed to realize the potential of this technology.”
Mikal Bøe, CEO of CORE POWER
“Merging the pathway of novel nuclear fuel cycle development that MCRE represents with CORE POWER's pathway of maritime nuclear development, creates unique opportunities to deliver an ultimately sustainable nuclear fuel solution to new markets around the world. One such market is a sustainable future of civil maritime nuclear propulsion of large commercial ships, where an enduring, zero-emission power source can transform the way global trade is transported at sea.”
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / October 15, 2026 / Southern Company
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved cost-shared funding for an accelerated final stage of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE), under its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The funding will support work by Southern Company, Idaho National Laboratory and CORE POWER to advance scientific understanding of molten salt reactor technology and inform future reactor development. MCRE is expected to achieve first criticality as early as 2027.
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