The U.S. Department of Energy says an advanced small nuclear reactor being developed at a national laboratory has reached a key milestone toward producing electricity. The milestone involves the reactor achieving “criticality,” a state in which a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction occurs. At that point, the reactor can produce a steady release of energy rather than a brief or unstable reaction.
Both outlets describe the announcement as an early but important step in the reactor’s development, rather than a final readiness to generate power for the grid. The Energy Department presents the progress as potentially enabling electricity production within the next few years, indicating the project is moving along a development timeline that could lead to demonstration of power generation.
While details such as reactor design specifications, the specific laboratory site, and the exact schedule for electricity generation are not covered in the provided excerpts, the shared focus is on the significance of the criticality achievement as a prerequisite for further testing and eventual power generation.
