Latest milestone
The Ward 250 experiment achieved zero-power criticality outside a national laboratory.
2026-06 · DOE criticality announcement
Open primary source ↗← All deployments
Ward 250 critical experiment
A DOE-authorized zero-power criticality demonstration; it is evidence of reactor physics, not commercial operation.
Lead company · Valar Atomics →
Program · Reactor Pilot Program
Initial criticality achievedHigh confidence
Deployment stage7 / 8Operational
Deployment trajectory
1Interest
2Preliminary
3Development
4Contractual
5Ready
6Physical
7Operational
8Replication
Next milestone
Translate test results into a powered design, licensing basis, customer project, and repeatable delivery plan.
- Responsible
- Valar Atomics
- Key blocker
- Powered demonstration, licensing, finance, and commercialization
GenerationExperimental / unclassified
ScaleCritical experiment
Reactor familyDesign TBD
RoleCritical experiment
CapacityNo electricity generation
Reporting basisGovernment-reported