10 MWe steam turbine to power next-gen sodium-cooled US nuclear reactor

US-based Aalo Atomics has partnered with Baker Hughes to supply a 10 MWe steam turbine generator set for its experimental sodium-cooled nuclear reactor, the Aalo-X. This turbine will convert thermal energy from the reactor into electricity aimed at powering AI data centers. The collaboration leverages Baker Hughes’ modular design approach, aligning with Aalo’s “plug-and-play” philosophy for modular reactors. The turbine is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, supporting Aalo’s goal of achieving first criticality—the point of self-sustaining nuclear reaction—by the end of 2025. Aalo Atomics is developing the Extra-Modular Reactor (XMR), designed to fill the niche between microreactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), specifically targeting the continuous, high power demands of AI infrastructure. Unlike traditional water-cooled reactors, the XMR uses liquid sodium for cooling, enabling higher energy density and a smaller footprint. The pilot Aalo-X produces