Valar Atomics

Making the largest nuclear sites in the world to create industrial electricity, heat, and carbon neutral synthetic fuels from thin air.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Operation Windlord behind the scenes master thread.

Hundreds of people across DOE, DOW, and our own Valar team worked tirelessly to perform this demonstration. Thanks for following along for the first-ever C-17 airlift of a nuclear reactor.

Now on to power operations by July 4.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Today, we’re exited to partner with the Department of War and Department of Energy on Operation Windlord. Three C-17s will be transporting our Ward250 reactor from March ARB to Hill AFB.

Here’s a peek at what it took to bring this operation to life. (Part 1)

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

https://t.co/eCVCV3qkKk

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Build with us.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

On this Memorial Day, Valar Atomics honors all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. #FreedomIsNotFree

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

I enjoyed taking Jemima from The Information around our first nuclear site and sharing more about Valar Atomics!

At Valar, we probably celebrate different things than most startups. A cold criticality means more to us than a billion-dollar MOU. Generating 100kW of actual power matters more than theoretical demand for 1GW. Getting a full, hardened reactor packaged onto a C-17 and flown with the Air Force matters more than another funding announcement.

To people outside the deep tech startup ecosystem, these can look like baby steps. Cold criticality was a baby step; that's why our goal for July 4th is to make power. But every important technology in history started with small first steps. The first transistor, the first rocket launch, the first computers all looked insignificant before they changed the world.

SMRs are still in their infancy, and infancy is measured in engineering milestones. You do not get to gigawatts without first proving watts. Cold criticality was one small step. Ward250 making first power will be another small step. Then another after that.

That’s how real technology development works. First physics, then engineering, then scale. Most people only notice once the compounding becomes impossible to ignore.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Our mission at Valar Atomics is to make the world’s energy with nuclear reactors that are designed and built for scale.

With this milestone, we remain on track to accomplish the President’s mandate in EO 14301, and demonstrate our first proof of scalable nuclear energy.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Today, the DOE accepted our Documented Safety Analysis (DSA) for the Ward250 Reactor.

The DSA is our final design approval, demonstrating that we have satisfied the DOE’s rigorous safety standards in engineering and construction.

Next, Readiness Review and power before July 4.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

In the coming weeks, the Department of Energy will conduct an Operational Readiness Review, auditing our policies and procedures to ensure that we are ready to make power in America’s first Gen IV power reactor.

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

You Will Be Unleashed

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

More about Project Nova:

https://t.co/6bJILoSADH

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

Today, Valar Atomics became the first startup in history to split the atom.

Announcing Project Nova, a series of zero power critical tests on Valar Atomics' Nova Core in collaboration with Los Alamos NCERC and NNSS.

Nova went critical for the first time this morning at 11:45am.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Last November, Valar Atomics became the first startup to achieve criticality in our Nova Core.

Now, we're using the experience we gained to take the next big leap: hot criticality and power operations in Ward250 by July 4th of this year.

Here's why it matters:

[Rep. Burgess Owens @RepBurgessOwens]

Utah is a land of innovation and opportunity. I was very impressed to visit the new @valaratomics project on site at the San Rafael Energy Lab where their advanced micro nuclear reactor, one that was just air-lifted into the state, is being deployed to help demonstrate the capability and safety of nuclear energy in the modern era. Very impressive!

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Introducing the Modular Citadel production line, capable of producing over 1,000 shielding blocks per year.

The Modular Citadel is a pre-cast, self-tensioning shielding system built for mass-manufactured scale.

Block production is on track for July 4th!

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Three weeks ago, the DOE formally approved Valar Atomics' Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) for the Ward250 reactor. We are on track for power operations before the President's target of July 4th, 2026.

[Office of Nuclear Energy | US Department of Energy @GovNuclear]

REACTOR PILOT PROGRAM UPDATE

⚛️ Projects Selected: 11
✅ PDSAs Approved: 4 (and counting)
🗓️ Days Remaining: 122
🎯 Status: ON TARGET to achieve criticality for at least 3 reactors by July 4th, 2026.

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

Last night, I had the honor of being the keynote speaker at the National Criticality Safety Program's Technical Program Review, where I shared an update on the incredible work that Valar team and NCERC did on Project Nova. So grateful for the critically important work of NCSP.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Last Thursday, we paused site work and opened up Ward250 to our community in Emery County.

Over 300 neighbors joined us for an evening of nuclear reactors and BBQ, and lots of people learned about how nuclear works for the first time.

Team Valar is grateful for Emery County!

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

Today, I'm incredibly proud to unveil our first nuclear site to the world: Valar Atomics at San Rafael.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Thank you to all the incredible airmen who performed this mission. 🇺🇸
https://t.co/PW3bxmBXrK

[Isaiah Taylor - making nuclear reactors @isaiah_p_taylor]

Today, the Department of War will execute Operation Windlord, the first C-17 airlift of a nuclear reactor, in partnership with the Department of Energy and Valar Atomics.

Three C-17s Globemasters carrying the 8 modules of the Ward250 reactor will fly from March ARB to Hill AFB.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Operation Windlord behind the scenes master thread.

Hundreds of people across DOE, DOW, and our own Valar team worked tirelessly to perform this demonstration. Thanks for following along for the first-ever C-17 airlift of a nuclear reactor.

Now on to power operations by July 4.

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Today, we’re exited to partner with the Department of War and Department of Energy on Operation Windlord. Three C-17s will be transporting our Ward250 reactor from March ARB to Hill AFB.

Here’s a peek at what it took to bring this operation to life. (Part 1)

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Part 5

[Valar Atomics @valaratomics]

Operation Windlord behind the scenes Part 5 (the final part): The Delivery!