Celebrating INL’s legacy of innovation

The Idaho National Laboratory has changed the world for more than 75 years through work in nuclear energy, national security and other innovative technologies. From early nuclear reactor demonstrations to establishing tomorrow’s robust electrical grid, here are 10 of the most impactful INL achievements that benefit our nation and the world:

In 1951, Experimental Breeder Reactor-I (EBR-I) became the first nuclear reactor to generate usable amounts of electricity. The reactor core design used a liquid metal coolant and pioneered the concept of “breeding” more fuel than it consumed. Experiments performed at the National Reactor Testing Station proved that nuclear energy was sustainable and scalable, laying the foundation for today’s commercial nuclear energy industry. More than 400 reactors worldwide can trace their lineage back to Idaho.

The world’s first nuclear-powered city

In 1955, Arco, Idaho became the first city powered entirely by nuclear fission, proving nuclear energy could serve real-world infrastructure. Arco’s electricity came from the BORAX-III reactor, an innovative boiling water design that safely connected to the grid. The project demonstrated that nuclear energy could deliver practical, on-demand electricity to real-world infrastructure. Arco proved nuclear power’s viability for everyday use and sparked over six decades of civilian nuclear energy development around the world.

Restarting INL’s legacy of building reactors

U.S. companies are developing small and advanced nuclear reactors for a range of applications including reliable power for remote locations and industrial heat. INL’s MARVEL project is an 85-kilowatt microreactor cooled by liquid metal. Researchers designed MARVEL to reduce technical risk and accelerate deployment of tomorrow’s advanced reactors by validating agile fabrication techniques, iterative design and early, independent testing of reactor coolant systems. MARVEL also provides companies with a platform to demonstrate how nuclear energy can power applications beyond conventional electricity generation. These innovations enhance reactor safety and reliability while providing a replicable model for future microreactor development and commercialization.

Supporting advanced nuclear demonstrations

For decades, nuclear innovators faced steep barriers — expensive facilities, long licensing timelines and limited opportunities to prove new designs. The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) is pioneering a new business model with its DOME and LOTUS test beds by creating demonstration spaces where companies can rapidly prototype, test and validate microreactor technologies. For the U.S. nuclear energy industry, NRIC has transformed reactor testing from a once-in-decades opportunity to an on-demand service, cutting development costs and timelines and drastically reducing the time it takes the next generation of nuclear reactors to enter the marketplace.

Critical infrastructure protection

As threats to power, water and communications infrastructure grow, researchers and operators need a place to develop and test defenses. INL built the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex — a utility-scale testing ground with its own grid, wireless network and municipal water system — where researchers can demonstrate and validate technologies under real-world conditions. The test range offers utilities, agencies and manufacturers a full-scale environment to validate solutions before deployment. This innovation transforms critical infrastructure protection from lab-based exercises into realistic rehearsals that help secure the systems that sustain modern life.

Developing modern cybersecurity

Before 2007, most people believed cyberattacks threatened only data, not machines. That March, INL researchers overturned that assumption with an experiment called the Aurora vulnerability — a novel demonstration that showed how malicious software commands could physically destroy industrial equipment. Aurora revealed, for the first time, that code could be weaponized to break hardware, not just steal or corrupt data. The insight sparked sweeping changes in global cybersecurity standards and guides nations as they defend critical energy systems against cyber-physical threats.

Robust wireless communications

Emergency responders need reliable, secure communication when lives are on the line. But with so many wireless devices competing for space on the electromagnetic spectrum, finding and switching to an open frequency is a massive challenge. It’s one that hundreds of previous projects failed to overcome. WSComm is a one-of-a-kind radio system that automatically scans for available frequencies and allows users to communicate free of interference. The result is clear, secure communications to help save lives. First responders and law enforcement are using it now in the field.

Improving water access

Desalinating brackish groundwater is expensive, energy-intensive and leaves behind concentrated brine that is challenging to dispose of. INL developed a novel technique that couples the solvent dimethyl ether with traditional reverse osmosis for a lower-energy desalination system, removing unwanted minerals while minimizing waste. The cost-effective desalination system can open new groundwater sources to help communities meet agricultural and municipal needs — especially critical in dry areas such as the western United States.

Bringing power anywhere

Remote communities often lack the infrastructure or funding to build reliable energy systems. And after a disaster, repairing grid infrastructure to restore basic services can take weeks or even months. INL’s Microgrid in a Box solves this with a first-of-its-kind portable microgrid that packs 320 kilowatt-hours of battery storage into a rapidly deployable unit. Unlike traditional systems, it requires no construction and can integrate seamlessly with renewables, diesel or other energy sources. By turning resilient power into a mobile asset, it delivers flexible electricity for villages, military bases and emergency responders — bringing reliability anywhere it’s needed.

Advanced materials

Building next-generation energy systems demands materials that can endure heat, pressure, radiation and corrosive conditions far beyond today’s limits. INL is advancing this frontier with electric field assisted sintering, an innovation that dramatically reduces the cost and time to manufacture high-performance metals and ceramics. Researchers also helped pioneer Alloy 617, the first high-temperature structural material licensed for nuclear reactors. By delivering faster pathways to tougher, more resilient materials, these innovations unlock the deployment of advanced energy, space and hydrogen technologies.

This list is just a small sample of INL’s contributions to the nation. Watch for more innovations in the coming years that strengthen our national security, boost the economy and make abundant, low-cost energy a reality for everyone.