California Nuclear Startup Radiant Industries to Build Small Reactor Factory at Historic Manhattan Project Site

The Oak Ridge site will become the first location in the United States dedicated to mass-producing small nuclear reactors, according to the company's announcement.

Radiant Industries Inc., a nuclear startup based in California, has revealed plans to construct a factory for its innovative reactors at a historic Tennessee location that was previously part of the Manhattan Project.

According to a company statement released on Monday, Radiant anticipates beginning construction in early 2025, with the facility expected to start producing small reactors by 2028. The selected land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee carries significant historical importance, as it was utilized by the US government during the 1940s for enriching uranium that was essential for the development of the world's first atomic bombs.

Doug Bernauer, Radiant's founder and chief executive officer, stated: "What was formerly the first Manhattan Project site will now be the site of the first portable nuclear generator production. By 2028, we'll be rolling out the first factory-built nuclear generator, and within a few years we'll be producing over a dozen per year."

Radiant is among a growing number of companies developing advanced nuclear designs manufactured in factory settings, a strategy intended to make nuclear technology more efficient and cost-effective. However, this approach remains untested in the United States, and the company still needs to secure regulatory approval to build its 1-megawatt Kaleidos system.

The company emphasized that the Oak Ridge facility will pioneer mass production of small reactors in the United States.