Elemental Nuclear and the University of Utah Will Demonstrate Proof-of-Concept Nuclear Microreactor System for Powering AI Data Centers

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This summer, the University of Utah’s TRIGA nuclear reactor will produce electricity for the first time in its 50-year history — and it will use that electricity to power a mini AI data center. It’s an important proof-of-concept for full-scale data centers, which are eyeing a range of on-site nuclear “microreactors” to meet the AI industry’s gargantuan energy needs.

The project is a collaboration between Elemental Nuclear Energy Corp., an advanced nuclear energy company developing next-generation microreactors and high-performance Brayton Cycle power generators, and the John and Marcia Price College of Engineering’s Nuclear Engineering Program.

Utah’s TRIGA reactor is used for research purposes; the heat it produces is usually bled off by cooling systems rather than being captured to generate electricity. Elemental’s innovation is a compact, cold-helium-based power generator that pairs with low-temperature microreactors, replacing steam turbines and their large footprints.

Once connected, the resulting electricity will be used to power a high-performance GPU node executing a live AI workload. While the 2-3 kW output is modest compared to the hundreds-of-megawatts full-scale data centers will require, it’s a symbolic first step towards powering the future.

“This project is intended to demonstrate a powerful principle,” said Mike Luther, Founder of Elemental Nuclear. “The energy produced through nuclear fission can ultimately power the computational systems driving artificial intelligence.”

The AI component of the experiment is supported through collaboration with the University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, which brings expertise in the design, development, and operation of AI infrastructure.

From Reactor Heat to AI Compute

The demonstration will take place at the University of Utah’s TRIGA research reactor facility and will involve collaboration among students and faculty from twelve universities across the United States and internationally, forming one of the most ambitious academic collaborations centered on a research reactor.

“This will be, to our knowledge, the first time any university reactor has produced electricity, not just our own,” says reactor manager Dr. Ted Goodell. “It’s a milestone for our students, but it also shows that small, safe reactors could live at data centers, rather than in labs.”

During the experiment, the thermal energy generated by the reactor will be partially captured and converted into electricity using a compact Brayton Cycle power system. The system utilizes a “Cold” or “Reverse” Brayton cycle, in which a helium working fluid is compressed, heated using reactor pool water, expanded through a turbine generator, and subsequently cooled via a cryogenic heat exchanger.

Performance Targets

The experiment is designed as a proof-of-concept system with the following targets:

• Thermal input from TRIGA reactor water: ~50 kW
• Turbine output: ~13 kW
• Net electrical generation: approximately 2-3 kW

While modest in scale, the system is intended to demonstrate that even small nuclear platforms can produce usable electricity sufficient to power modern computing systems.

According to David Blythe, Co-Founder and CEO of Elemental Nuclear, “This experiment represents an important step in demonstrating how compact nuclear systems can be paired with advanced power conversion technologies to support emerging energy demands.”

The TRIGA Network: A Platform for Innovation

The demonstration is also part of Elemental Nuclear’s broader strategy to leverage the global network of TRIGA research reactors as a platform for rapid innovation.

Across universities operating TRIGA reactors, the ecosystem includes more than 1,500 nuclear scientists and engineers, tens of thousands of students, and decades of operational expertise.

“This is one of the most extraordinary scientific networks in the world,” Luther says. “It combines operating nuclear infrastructure with a deep bench of talent and institutional knowledge. We believe it represents a powerful platform for accelerating next-generation nuclear technologies.”

Elemental Nuclear envisions tapping into this network as a global testbed for advancing reactor design, isotope production, and integrated energy systems.

Toward Next-Generation Nuclear Systems

Elemental Nuclear is developing a new class of nuclear microreactors designed to provide reliable, carbon-free energy for industrial applications, advanced computing infrastructure, and emerging energy markets.

The company’s approach emphasizes rapid iteration and deployment through collaboration with universities and existing infrastructure, rather than relying solely on traditional multi-decade development pathways.

“Our objective is to deliver a commercially viable nuclear microreactor by 2030–2031,” Luther says. “Experiments like this enable us to move quickly, validate real-world systems, and build toward scalable solutions.”

About Elemental Nuclear Energy Corp.

Elemental Nuclear Energy Corp. is an advanced nuclear energy company focused on developing next generation microreactors and high-performance power conversion systems for industrial and digital infrastructure. The company collaborates with universities, research institutions, and industry partners to accelerate the deployment of safe, scalable nuclear energy technologies.