Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Compare advanced fast-reactor concepts and their current development status.
“Advanced” describes technology — not necessarily size
The advanced-reactor entries here use fast-neutron and liquid-metal concepts rather than today’s conventional light-water large-reactor architecture. Their outputs are very different, so technology family and electrical scale need to be read separately.
Liquid metals allow high-temperature operation at comparatively low pressure, but create different materials and operating considerations.
Fast-reactor concepts use a neutron spectrum different from conventional thermal reactors.
Natrium pairs the reactor with thermal storage, so reactor output and short-duration plant output are not the same number.
Background: U.S. DOE advanced-reactor overview. Reactor-specific claims below come from the source linked on each profile.
Compare the designs on the fields that actually differ.
This is a curated comparison, not a claim that the list is exhaustive.
| Design | MWe | Technology | Fuel | Heat | Transportable | Programme status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora Powerhouse Oklo | 75 | Fast reactor | Metal fuel / HALEU pathway | Yes | No | Regulatory / selection Authorization / project development |
| Natrium TerraPower / GE Hitachi | 345 | Sodium-cooled fast reactor + thermal storage | HALEU metallic fuel | Yes | No | Under construction Under construction |
Source, status and project context for each design.
Aurora Powerhouse
Compact fast-reactor power plant line aimed at electricity and heat for industrial and high-demand customers.
Authorization / project developmentAdvanced reactorNatrium
345 MWe sodium fast reactor paired with molten-salt energy storage that can raise output to about 500 MWe.
Under constructionData snapshot verified against primary or authoritative sources: 21 September 2026. Reactor programmes and deployment schedules can change.