Radiant

Powering a cleaner future

The Russian invasion of Ukraine last month has prompted a renewed interest in the construction and improvement of nuclear power plants for major cities as European nations find themselves at risk of energy isolation, demonstrating the absolute necessity of clean, reliable, and sovereign power production– remaining coupled to traditional energy sources that are concentrated in authoritarian states leaves us exposed to the weaponization of energy and poses direct threats to national and economic security. Modern nuclear reactors remain expensive, averaging $5 billion to $10 billion in costs and requiring 5–7 years to build, making them justifiable investments for major metropolitan power grids, but less so for off-grid locations or as a viable source of energy during emergencies.

To serve power grids of all sizes and populations in all corners of the nation, at any time, while ensuring energy independence and security, we need transportable, efficient, cost-effective reactors– that is why Decisive Point is pleased to announce its investment in Radiant.

Introducing Radiant

Radiant is developing micro-nuclear reactors; the first portable, zero-emissions power source that works anywhere with no external infrastructure requirements. Each unit delivers over 1 Mega Watt of electricity and can operate for up to 8 years, providing enough power to support over 1,000 homes per unit. Remote monitoring, centralized fueling, and maintenance enable micro-grids without any permanent impacts. The portable design allows for rapid deployment of new units in populated areas as well as to remote communities, disaster-stricken areas, and austere military bases, providing a resilient source of clean energy and heat. Radiant’s design leverages redundant, autonomous safety controls for safe and practical management of meltdown-proof TRISO nuclear fuel. This form of nuclear fuel can withstand extremely high temperatures, as TRISO particles cannot melt in a reactor. Radiant’s reactor operates autonomously and uses advanced modeling and simulation technology to manage reactor startup, shutdown, and SCRAM (rapid shutdown).

Radiant’s technology brings a whole new dimension to portability for nuclear reactors. The micro-reactor, currently under development, will produce 1.2MWe and heat. It can supply 4–6 years of power and only takes 2 days to install. Radiant’s solution is air-cooled, does not require water, and can be controlled autonomously while being monitored remotely. This product will be a viable alternative to the MEP-PU-810/A diesel generators currently in use by the Department of Defense, which requires a continuous supply of ~4 tons of fuel per day at 75% load. This micro-reactor could be used as a resilient backup, primary power source at a remote fixed site, or as a mobile expeditionary power source.

The reactor is designed to fit in a custom shipping container and can be easily transported by air, ship, and road, which means it will bring affordable energy to hard-to-reach locations and communities without access to renewable energy sources. The company’s novel design allows for off-site rapid refueling of the reactor — in other words, when the reactor reaches the end of its life cycle, the entire reactor is replaced and safely transported to a refueling site rather than exposing a population to exposure from radiological materials during on-site refueling.

Radiant’s Kaleidos reactor can power over 1,000 homes.

Growing the Grid

Radiant’s reactors are poised to serve a multitude of different markets across the commercial sectors, including:

• The Department of Defense and U.S. Military: The DoD has a clear and immediate need for portable power to mitigate the risks and costs of transporting fuel and the emissions from fossil fuel-powered generators
• Remote Communities: On microgrids, especially in areas far from fuel sources and wear renewables are infeasible (subarctic areas or areas that lack solar, wind, or hydroelectric resources)
• Resource Extraction Sites: For off-grid industrial applications, a low-cost portable power source that does not require storage tanks and pumps is faster to set up and more efficient than alternatives
• Disaster Relief: A rapidly deployable fuel source that does not require large diesel storage or resupply over potentially damaged roads, so transportation and ports can be dedicated to medical supplies, food, water, and relief professionals. For long-term refugee life support, these reactor units are also ideal in that they are non-polluting and contain enough fuel to last through the crisis.
• Grid Resiliency Backups and Critical Infrastructure Redundancy: Portable nuclear would serve as an essential source of backup power for critical infrastructure such as hospitals.
• Space: Nuclear electric propulsion and radioisotope thermoelectric generators in space can revolutionize satellite and other aerospace technologies

Radiant offers a path to a safer, healthier, and more balanced country and planet, and we are thrilled to partner with them on their mission to become the foremost advanced nuclear technology company and power the world.