20 MW molten salt nuclear battery targets 10 years of power between refuels

MicroNuclear is moving its 20 MW thermal Molten Salt Nuclear Battery toward detailed engineering, safety reviews, prototype manufacturing, and first-fission testing under a new collaboration with the Idaho National Laboratory Foundation.

The agreement brings together MicroNuclear, the INL Foundation, engineering firm EXP, nuclear manufacturer Premier Technology and Porter House. The group will work on engineering, manufacturing, nuclear quality assurance, operations, training, licensing and commercialization activities.

The MsNB is designed as a compact molten salt microreactor using natural circulation instead of relying on pumps to move its coolant. MicroNuclear says the system is intended to provide resilient power and process heat for critical infrastructure, military and government facilities, remote grids and industrial users.

The company envisions the unit as a 20 MW thermal system capable of operating at full power for an anticipated 10-year battery interval before being returned to a centralized facility for fuel and salt recovery and recycling.

Compact reactors target resilience

The collaboration is intended to take the concept through a more structured development phase, including detailed design work, safety documentation, applicable government reviews and regulatory pathways.

MicroNuclear describes the MsNB as cyber-protected, with physical and electromagnetic pulse protection also incorporated into its broader microreactor approach. The company is targeting applications where reliable power or high-temperature process heat may be difficult to provide through conventional energy infrastructure.

The system could also support potential hydrogen production, according to the company. However, the announcement does not provide details on the hydrogen-production process, operating temperatures, or expected efficiency.

“We are well positioned to move the Molten Salt Nuclear Battery from a promising technology to a disciplined path toward engineering, testing, licensing, and eventual development,” CEO of MicroNuclear Paul Marotta said.

The development team will also work toward establishing a repeatable model for future deployments. That could help translate the reactor concept from prototype development into potential commercial projects if testing, licensing, and other regulatory requirements are met.

Testing moves toward laboratories

The INL Foundation will support early fundraising and help facilitate access to Idaho National Laboratory. It also plans to present information about the MsNB through investor events. Contributions supporting testing may qualify for tax-deductible treatment, subject to applicable requirements.

EXP will contribute engineering capabilities, while Premier Technology brings advanced manufacturing and nuclear quality-assurance experience. Porter House will contribute expertise related to deployment and commercialization.

The companies say the combined effort is intended to accelerate technology maturation and establish the documentation and manufacturing capabilities needed for future demonstration.

Testing is expected to take place at Idaho National Laboratory or other U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories. Those activities would be conducted through separate agreements rather than being automatically authorized by the collaboration announced this week.

The agreement therefore marks a development step rather than confirmation that the MsNB has entered operational deployment. Before commercial use, the concept will need to progress through engineering, prototype testing, safety evaluation, licensing and other regulatory processes.