Manhattan Project site to host world’s first nuclear reactor factory

Radiant, a California-based nuclear startup, plans to build the world’s first factory for mass-producing portable nuclear generators on historic Manhattan Project land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The factory, named R-50, will be located on portions of the former K-27 and K-29 sites, part of the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant used during World War II for uranium enrichment. Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with the goal of delivering the first Kaleidos nuclear generators by 2028 and scaling production to 50 reactors annually in subsequent years. Radiant’s CEO, Doug Bernauer, emphasized the symbolic significance of transforming the original Manhattan Project site into a hub for next-generation nuclear technology. The Kaleidos microreactor, Radiant’s flagship product, is a 1-megawatt failsafe nuclear microreactor designed for reliable, portable power without frequent refueling. It targets diverse applications including remote communities, critical infrastructure, military operations, and data