The Department of Defense has awarded BWX Technologies (NYSE: BWXT), X-energy and Westinghouse's government services business separate two-year contracts worth potentially $39.8M combined to design a mobile nuclear reactor model.
DoD said Monday it may select one of the three awardees to produce and demonstrate a microreactor prototype after the maturation phase of Project Pele, an initiative under the Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office.
The selection of industry participants occured via an initial engineering design competition following the issuance of a request for information last year.
All three companies will coordinate with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration in efforts to create a working design for analysis, test, evaluation and construction use.
DoD noted it consumes more than 10M gallons of fuel each day and an estimated 30 terawatt-hours of electricity each year. The department added that microreactors have the potential to reduce the cost of investing in power infrastructure.
The Pentagon also disclosed its intent to develop an Project Pele environmental impact statement in a notice posted on Federal Register and plans to host a public meeting to tackle EIS matters.
