Mirion Technologies and Paragon Energy Solutions have supported multiple advanced reactor designs achieving criticality milestones within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program. This achievement aligns with Executive Order 14301, which directed the DOE to bring at least three advanced reactor designs to criticality by July 4, 2026.
Mirion Technologies' Role in DOE Reactor Pilot Program
Mirion Technologies and Paragon Energy Solutions provided essential products, systems, and expertise across several advanced reactor demonstrations. These capabilities spanned reactor protection, neutron flux monitoring, radiation monitoring, health physics, and radiochemistry. The support helped developers safely reach the ability to sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction.
The program, established under Executive Order 14301, initially selected 11 projects. Of these, four successfully achieved criticality. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) served as the host, providing the necessary infrastructure, expertise, and testing capability for these milestones.
Strategic Alignment with Executive Order 14301 Goals
The DOE’s mandate, issued in May 2025, aimed to strengthen and accelerate the U.S. nuclear industry. The successful achievement of criticality by four projects demonstrates that an ambitious schedule is achievable when government, national laboratories, and industry partners collaborate.
Tighe Smith, Chief Nuclear Officer of Mirion and Paragon, noted that this momentum signals the industry can move quickly and safely sustain that pace as advanced nuclear moves toward broad deployment. Mirion Nuclear Solutions offers integrated capabilities covering reactor safety, radiation monitoring, and regulatory compliance from demonstration through commercial deployment.
Key Takeaways
- Four of the 11 initially selected advanced reactor projects achieved criticality milestones in the DOE Reactor Pilot Program.
- Mirion Technologies and Paragon Energy Solutions provided expertise in reactor protection and neutron flux monitoring for these demonstrations.
- Executive Order 14301 directed the DOE to bring at least three advanced reactor designs to criticality by July 4, 2026.
EnergyInsyte's Take
In our view, the successful demonstration of criticality across multiple advanced reactor designs signals a tangible shift in the nuclear development timeline. This achievement validates the DOE's accelerated schedule and underscores the critical role of specialized safety and monitoring providers like Mirion. The ability to sustain this pace suggests that the industry is moving beyond theoretical modeling toward practical, deployable nuclear technology.
Source: Businesswire
