The Department of Energy (DOE) is turning two nuclear pilot programs into a standing commercialization pathway. The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) selected 13 projects from 12 developers for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad (NELP)1 following April selections for Deployable Energy, General Matter, NuCube, and Radiant2.
The NELP is designed to support rapid project development across the nuclear value chain at Idaho National Laboratory or qualified sites elsewhere in the United States.
From Pilot Sprint to Repeatable Pipeline
NRIC describes the NELP as the "next iteration" of the DOE's successful Reactor Pilot Program and Fuel Line Pilot Program, which are no longer accepting applications. The pilots created urgency around privately financed projects using DOE authorization, resulting in rapid iteration and prototyping of reactor and fuel fabrication projects.
The NELP preserves that model while accepting applications on a rolling basis. NRIC and the DOE's national laboratories are now offering technical, regulatory, and deployment support across a broader range of development stages.
The Reactor Pilot Program accepted 11 projects from 10 companies3. Across the transition to Launch Pad, Antares, Valar Atomics, Deployable Energy, and Aalo Atomics reached criticality by July 4, exceeding DOE's target of at least three4. Oklo (NUKZ holding as of 9/10/26) has since produced a fifth advanced-reactor criticality5. While these were low-power testing milestones, not commercial operations, they demonstrated actual hardware and controlled chain reactions.
The Fuel Line Pilot Program selected Standard Nuclear, Oklo, Terrestrial Energy (NUKZ holding as of 9/10/26), TRISO-X, and Valar Atomics across nine proposed projects, creating a parallel pipeline for domestically produced reactor fuel6.
NELP selection is, just as the reactor and fuel programs were, not a grant or guarantee of commercialization. DOE and NRIC funding is not available through the program, so developers must fund their work and obtain the necessary authorizations.
Reactor Developers
Deployable Energy is developing the 1-MWe Unity transportable gas-cooled microreactor.
Radiant Industries is developing Kaleidos, a transportable 1-MWe TRISO-fueled gas reactor.
Antares Nuclear is developing the R1 platform using TRISO fuel and sodium heat pipes.
Atlas Atomics is pursuing advanced heavy-water reactor technology for baseload power and isotope production.
Forge Atomics is developing Ember, a factory-built 25-MWe pressurized-water reactor using conventional fuel.
Oklo is developing fast-spectrum Aurora powerhouses, isotope reactors, and fuel-cycle capabilities.
Scaled Atomics is developing the MN-350, a mobile, containerized microreactor aimed at defense and remote-power markets.
Valar Atomics is developing TRISO-fueled high-temperature gas reactors.
Fuel Chain: Separation, Conversion, and Qualification
Enrichment and isotope separation: Hexium is modernizing laser isotope separation, initially for lithium isotopes, while Nusano is developing a mass-separation route intended to produce metallic high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) without the conventional fuel chain additives.
Uranium conversion: Raven-Flint Nuclear is planning the design-stage Torch pilot at INL using a process that converts uranium concentrate to uranium hexafluoride without elemental fluorine. Sublime Nuclear is an early-stage developer focused on rebuilding domestic conversion and enrichment capacity, but neither the company nor NRIC has disclosed its selected project's process or site.
Advanced fuel: Lightbridge (NUKZ holding as of 9/10/26) is developing metallic fuel rods for reactors and conducting irradiation and qualification work at INL. Oklo and Valar also cross categories through fuel-fabrication plans but are listed above with their reactor peers.
Why Launch Pad Matters for NUKZ
The NELP does not eliminate technical or execution risk, but it does convert a one-time sprint into a repeatable front door for privately financed nuclear projects. A broader demonstration funnel can mean more demand for enriched uranium, specialty fuels, components, testing, and engineering even before commercial fleets emerge.
Holdings (as of 9/10/26) of the Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ) are participating in the NELP, specifically Lightbridge (LTBR) and Oklo (OKLO).
The bull case is not that every Launch Pad selection becomes a viable business. It is that a growing, recurring pipeline may give NUKZ holdings more opportunities to sell fuel, equipment, and services into the projects that do advance.
Holdings subject to change. To view holdings, click here.
Sources:
1. Idaho National Laboratory. “NRIC Selects New Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Participants to Boost Nuclear Energy.” August 24, 2026.
2. Idaho National Laboratory. “National Reactor Innovation Center Announces First Selections for Nuclear Energy Launch Pad.” April 27, 2026.
3. U.S. Department of Energy. “U.S. Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program.”
4. U.S. Department of Energy. “Department of Energy Celebrates Fourth Criticality Ahead of July 4th Goal.” July 6, 2026.
5. U.S. Department of Energy. “Office of Nuclear Energy Celebrates Fifth Advanced Reactor Criticality.” August 6, 2026.
6. U.S. Department of Energy. “Energy Department Fuel Line Pilot Program.”
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