Oklo Will Deploy Aurora Microreactors by 2028
The company targets commercial power availability for data centers with 14 GW in pending orders.
Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Nuclear
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Oklo plans to deploy its Aurora microreactors by 2028 to supply energy for data center operations. The development follows federal safety approvals and successful testing of the company's pilot reactor technology.
Why it matters
The company aims to address the massive power demands of data centers by providing modular, scalable nuclear generation capacity. This shift toward private reactor deployment is driven by the energy requirements of modern computing infrastructure.
Each Aurora microreactor is designed to generate between 15 to 75 MWe of power. The company has secured an order book totaling 14 GW, while planning a 1.2 GW capacity campus in Ohio.
The players
Oklo
A reactor developer focused on building small, modular nuclear fission systems for industrial energy consumers.
Department of Energy
The United States federal agency overseeing nuclear safety and experimental reactor pilot programs.
Centrus Energy
A nuclear fuel supplier contracted by Oklo to provide HALEU, or high-assay low-enriched uranium, starting in 2029.
Kiewit
An engineering and construction firm responsible for the management of site development for the Aurora reactor fleet.
The details
The Aurora microreactor utilizes a fission-based design to produce heat, which is then converted into electricity. Oklo operates under the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program to manage federal oversight and development phases. Construction for its campus projects is managed by Kiewit, a large-scale infrastructure contractor, to scale the physical deployment of the units.
Timeline
September 22, 2025: Groundbreaking occurred for the Idaho site.
June 11, 2026: The Department of Energy approved the Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis.
August 5, 2026: The Groves Isotope Test Reactor achieved first criticality.
September 2026: Oklo established a $1 billion at-the-market equity program.
2028: Expected commercial debut of Aurora microreactors.
The Tech Race
Oklo is positioning its microreactors within the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program to compete with traditional grid-scale power generation. The firm aims to prove that small-scale modular nuclear power can meet the rapid load growth required by hyperscale data center operators.
This development targets high-intensity industrial users, specifically data center operators, rather than individual utility customers. Real-world power delivery will depend on successful construction timelines and finalized fuel delivery schedules from partners like Centrus Energy.
The takeaway
Oklo's trajectory hinges on its ability to transition from successful reactor testing to operational deployment at scale. Watch for the 2026-2027 construction starts at the Ohio campus to confirm if the firm remains on track for its 2028 commercial debut.
What happens next
Construction on the Ohio campus is expected to begin between 2026 and 2027, with initial phases coming online as early as 2030.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in nuclear technology and safety standards within the Nuclear section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto Briefing.
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