Radiant Nuclear raises $300M for semi-size 1 MW reactor

Another day, another round of nine people launching nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Glow said today that it has earned more than $300 million, just one day After Last Energy he claimed to have earned $100 million. Three weeks agoX-power raised $700 million, and in AugustAalo Atomics raised $100 million. Heck, Radiant alone raised $165 million six months ago.

Given the amount of investment that has been made, it seems reasonable to ask if the nuclear world is not doing well. Investment in technology has been closely followed by the data center boom. AI requires a lot of electricity, and technology companies and data center manufacturers have been scrambling to get it from sources ranging from nuclear explosions to supersonic jets.

As long as the energy demand of the technology industry continues to grow, interest in nuclear power is expected to remain strong. But there may be a blow in the field in the next year or two if the founders do not fulfill their promises, many of which revolve from next year.

Some founders can buy over time. Primary nuclear reactors can be built by hand, but most nuclear reactors are based on the idea that mass production makes fission competitive. They may be able to reach the challenge but stumble when they try to repeat what they have done.

None of this is to say that the Radiant will fall into that category; it can be very successful. Instead, the company will be just the latest in a long line of nuclear startups that have announced lead financings in the past few months. Anytime the market is bullish, the B word should come out.

The new round was led by Draper Associates and Boost VC with participation from Ark Venture Fund, Chevron Technology Ventures, Friends and Family Capital, Founders Fund, and others. It values ​​Radiant at more than $1.8 billion. Previous investors include Andreessen Horowitz, DCVC, Giant Ventures, and Union Square Ventures.

Radiant is developing a microreactor that can generate 1 megawatt of electricity that can be delivered through a semi. It will be cooled with helium and will have enough TRISO fuel – carbon – and ceramic beads-coated with graphite and uranium that are designed to be very resistant to melting – to last five months between fuel.

The launch is aimed at replacing diesel generators in commercial and military applications. Customers will be able to purchase units directly or subscribe to a power purchase agreement. When the reactor’s 20-year lifespan is over, the company will decommission it.

Like many nuclear power plants, Radiant is targeting data centers as some of its primary customers. The company signed a deal with data center maker Equinix in August to supply 20 of its reactors.

First, Radiant is building a metal detector at the Idaho National Lab, which hopes to start testing in the summer of 2026. Most of the nuclear reactors are on the same schedule, which is set by the Trump administration’s goal of three reactors meeting the requirements – the time when nuclear power is self-sufficient – by July 4, 2026.

Radiant is one of 11 companies selected to participate in the program, which does not offer government funding or loans but speeds up the approval process.