Two US small modular reactor developers, Oklo and NuScale Power, notched milestones this year as demand for factory built nuclear technology continues to draw international interest, according to a review of recent company disclosures. Neither company has yet completed a commercially operating reactor, but both moved closer to that goal in 2026.
Oklo announced on August 6 that its small modular reactor in Texas achieved criticality, meaning the unit can sustain a steady, controlled nuclear reaction. According to Bloomberg reporting cited in the disclosure, the Texas unit is the fifth reactor of its kind worldwide to reach that operational threshold. Oklo's business model is built around vertical integration, with the company planning to handle fuel fabrication, electricity and heat sales, and eventual fuel recycling. The company has also signed an agreement with Meta Platforms under which Meta can prepay for power and help fund construction of an Oklo reactor project in Ohio, with full power output targeted for 2034.
NuScale Power, which holds the only completed Nuclear Regulatory Commission design certification among US SMR developers, is advising Fluor and Romanian utility RoPower on a proposed project that would link six NuScale reactor modules into a single large scale nuclear plant. NuScale has not yet built or sold a commercial unit, and the Romania project is viewed within the industry as an important proof of concept for the company's design.
Both companies' technology milestones come as US utilities and technology companies increasingly look to small modular reactors to meet growing electricity demand tied to data centers and AI computing infrastructure.
Source: Foreign Policy Journal - https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2026/09/16/europes-nuclear-push-puts-nuscale-power-nyse-smr-and-oklo-nyse-oklo-in-the-spotlight/