New-gen nuclear energy firm Oklo has signed a memorandum of understanding committing to Siemens Energy as supplier of rotating equipment for the power conversion system at the planned Aurora test reactor powerhouse in Idaho.
Siemens Energy will also provide consulting to support Oklo in design work of the conventional island.
Oklo’s working concept, which has received federal approval, is a compact fast-neutron reactor designed to use recycled, low-enriched uranium as a fuel source.
“Fast fission reactors are a proven technology to produce heat and partnering with Siemens Energy takes steps to secure an efficient, reliable, and scalable supply chain for converting that heat into power in our Oklo Aurora powerhouses,” said Alex Renner, senior director of product at Oklo.
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The partnership will help Oklo access a well-established supply chain for its essential components critical to making power and complement its overall design philosophy for the powerhouses, which is based on proven fast reactor technology.
“The clean power generated by advanced nuclear is one of the key steps to reaching a net zero future and Siemens Energy’s thermal energy components and services complement the powerhouses being developed by Oklo,” said Tobias Panse, Senior Vice President of Industrial Steam Turbines and Generators with Siemens Energy. “Working with Oklo as a preferred supplier will bring us closer to advanced nuclear deployments and our net-zero targets.”
The U.S. Department of Energy gave Oklo a site permit in 2019 for the Aurora project. The DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory will provide the fuel for the test reactor.
Oklo Inc. is a startup co-founded with capital funds which included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel.
