Powering Up: Microreactors Bring Energy to Off-Grid Areas

The Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation project (MARVEL) at the Idaho National Laboratory is developing microreactor technology that can provide 24/7 reliable carbon-free electricity on demand, regardless of geographic location. The technology is designed to help bring electricity to the 2.5 billion people on the planet who do not have access to it, including remote areas of Alaska. MARVEL's passive design uses a Stirling engine to convert heat into motion and does not require pumps to drive the coolant around the reactor. The goal is to demonstrate the workability of the design in a very short time frame and get it ready for demonstration in a year.