US’ fast fission reactor Aurora to use Siemens’ steam turbines to produce clean power

Oklo, a US-based small modular reactor (SMR) designer, has signed a binding contract with Siemens Energy to supply a power conversion system for its Aurora powerhouse, one of the world’s first commercial-scale fast fission SMR projects. Siemens Energy will begin engineering and early procurement of key steam-cycle components, including the SST-600 steam turbine and SGen-100A generator, which are critical for converting Aurora’s high-temperature nuclear heat into clean electricity. The SST-600 turbine is a compact, flexible unit suitable for power generation and mechanical drive applications, while the SGen-100A generator offers high-efficiency, air-cooled design supporting industrial power needs. Construction of the Aurora reactor began in September 2025 at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with operations expected to start in 2027. The reactor is designed to produce up to 75 megawatts electrical (MWe) of clean power and create about 80 permanent jobs. Aurora’s design features a fast neutron