Powerplex is an initiative to evaluate and potentially deploy a next-generation nuclear microreactor system at Missouri S&T. Microreactors are compact, factory-fabricated systems designed to provide reliable electricity and heat at a smaller scale than conventional nuclear power plants. 

They share some fundamentals with today’s reactors—such as using uranium fuel and well-understood nuclear physics—but differ in important ways:

• They use advanced fuel forms (such as TRISO particles) that are engineered to contain radioactive material even under extreme conditions
• They rely on passive safety features, where the reactor naturally reduces power as temperature increases
• They operate at lower power levels, allowing heat to be removed without large, complex backup systems
• They are designed to be modular and adaptable, making them suitable for campuses, industry, and remote applications

In many ways, these systems represent the evolution of nuclear technology over the past several decades—similar to how modern digital systems have transformed earlier technologies.

Powerplex reflects a convergence of institutional priorities and national needs. 

At the campus level, it supports:

• The goals of MSTR Reimagined, including infrastructure modernization and research expansion
• Long-term interest in clean, reliable energy systems
• Opportunities to create a hands-on learning and research platform

Nationally, interest in microreactors is growing because they can provide continuous clean energy, complementing intermittent renewables and supporting grid resilience. 

Powerplex positions Missouri S&T to contribute to—and help lead—this emerging field.

While final design decisions are still underway, Powerplex is expected to provide:

• Electricity for campus use or demonstration
• Thermal energy (steam or high-temperature heat)
• A platform for integrated energy research

A key feature under consideration is the use of thermal energy storage, such as molten salt systems, which can:

• Store heat when demand is low
• Release energy when needed
• Decouple reactor operation from campus energy demand

This flexibility opens the door to additional applications, including:

• Hydrogen production
• Industrial process heat
• Advanced energy system demonstrations

The ongoing planning study is actively evaluating these integration pathways to determine what configuration best serves campus and research needs.

Powerplex is best understood as a hybrid demonstration and research platform. 

Unlike many university reactors that focus primarily on neutron irradiation or isotope production, Powerplex is envisioned to:

• Demonstrate real-world energy system integration
• Support a broad portfolio of energy and infrastructure research
• Provide training and workforce development opportunities

Initial concepts do not rely on routine access to the reactor core for experiments. Instead, the focus is on system-level innovation—how advanced reactors interact with energy systems, storage, and end-use applications 

Powerplex is intended to serve as a hands-on learning and research environment unlike anything currently available on any university campus.

Students will have opportunities to engage directly with advanced energy systems, gaining experience in areas such as reactor operations, system modeling, instrumentation and controls, and integrated energy systems. Rather than learning only from theory or simulation, they will be able to observe and work with a real system operating at meaningful scale.

For researchers, the facility opens the door to a wide range of interdisciplinary work, including energy system integration, materials performance, thermal energy storage, hydrogen production, and grid resilience. Just as importantly, it creates opportunities to collaborate with national laboratories, industry partners, and other institutions working at the forefront of energy innovation.

In this way, Powerplex supports both education and research while helping prepare a workforce for a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Traditional university research reactors often include irradiation facilities for experiments such as neutron activation analysis. The type of system being considered for Powerplex is different. 

Current concepts focus on a sealed, long-life reactor core, which provides important safety and operational advantages but limits routine physical access to the core and neutron flux. As a result, Powerplex is not expected to function as a conventional neutron irradiation facility in its initial configuration. 

Instead, its primary roles are expected to be:

• Demonstrating advanced energy production
• Supporting system-level research
• Providing training and education

This does not reduce its research value. Rather, it shifts the focus toward integrated energy systems, advanced operations, and real-world applications, which are areas of growing importance. The planning study will continue to evaluate whether any specialized experimental capabilities could be incorporated in future configurations.

Safety is foundational to the project design and evaluation. 

Modern microreactors incorporate several inherent safety features:

1. Robust fuel form: Fuel particles are designed to retain fission products, significantly limiting the possibility of release.
2. Self-regulating behavior: As temperature increases, the nuclear reaction slows naturally, reducing power output.
3. Passive heat removal: Because of the reactor’s smaller size and lower power, heat can be safely dissipated without active systems or operator intervention.

These features address many of the challenges associated with older reactor designs. 

All safety assumptions and accident scenarios will undergo rigorous regulatory review as part of the licensing process.

Any nuclear facility in the United States must be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

The process includes:

• A construction permit, authorizing facility construction
• A separate operating license, required before fuel can be loaded and operations begin
• Detailed environmental and safety analyses

State agencies also play a role, particularly in emergency preparedness and oversight. 

The planning study currently underway is helping define the licensing pathway, timeline, and technical requirements needed to move forward.

Potential siting options are being evaluated based on:

• Safety and regulatory requirements
• Ability to integrate with existing campus energy infrastructure
• Proximity to research and teaching activities

As seen in similar projects, siting near existing energy facilities can help demonstrate how advanced reactors integrate with existing systems.

Final decisions will be informed by:

• Technical studies
• Regulatory requirements
• Stakeholder input

While remote siting is sometimes considered, placing the system near campus offers clear advantages:

• Direct integration with campus utilities
• Enhanced access for students and researchers
• Stronger alignment with MSTR Reimagined’s infrastructure goals

All siting scenarios must meet strict safety and environmental standards, regardless of location.

The fuel used in advanced microreactors is designed for long-term containment:

• Spent fuel typically remains sealed within the system during its operational lifetime
• At the end of that life, fuel is managed through federal programs, often involving return to a national laboratory or licensed facility

In addition, ongoing research aims to improve:

• Fuel performance
• Waste minimization
• Recycling and disposal pathways

Powerplex could contribute directly to this research.

Security is a core requirement of all nuclear facilities.

For systems like those being considered for Powerplex:

• Reactors are typically installed below grade or within hardened structures
• Fuel is not readily accessible
• Facilities must meet strict federal security and safeguarding requirements

The design and regulatory framework make theft or misuse extremely difficult.

If deployed, Powerplex would be:

• Owned and operated by Missouri S&T
• Managed by licensed operators, trained and certified under NRC requirements
• Supported by a combination of campus expertise and industry partnerships

Operations would follow strict procedures defined in the licensing process.

Flexibility is one of the defining features of modern microreactors.

Systems under consideration may include:

• Thermal energy storage, allowing energy to be stored when demand is low
• Decoupling between reactor output and campus demand
• Integration with multiple energy uses (electricity, heat, hydrogen, etc.)

This means the reactor does not need to “ramp up and down” constantly—it can operate steadily while energy is stored or redirected as needed.

Powerplex is initially envisioned as a demonstration-scale project, but microreactors are inherently modular.

Future expansion could involve:

• Additional units
• Expanded integration with campus systems
• Broader regional energy applications

These possibilities are being explored conceptually as part of the planning study, though any expansion would require separate evaluation and approval.

Powerplex creates a unique opportunity:

• Students gain experience with real-world advanced energy systems
• Researchers can test integrated technologies at meaningful scales
• Industry partnerships help prepare students for rapidly growing sectors

This aligns closely with both Missouri S&T’s mission and national workforce needs in energy and infrastructure.

Powerplex is currently in an active planning phase.

This includes:

• Technology evaluation
• Site and infrastructure analysis
• Regulatory strategy development
• Cost and partnership modeling

This phase is critical—it ensures that any future decisions are based on rigorous technical analysis and stakeholder engagement.

The total cost of Powerplex has not yet been finalized. The project is still in an active planning phase, and one of the primary goals of the ongoing study is to develop detailed cost estimates for both the reactor system and the supporting facility.

Like many first-of-a-kind demonstration projects, Powerplex is expected to involve a mix of federal support, industry partnerships, and university investment. Any institutional funding would need to be justified by the long-term value the project provides, including research growth, educational impact, and potential energy cost savings.

As the planning study progresses, it will provide a clearer picture of costs, funding strategies, and how the project could be structured to responsibly manage financial risk.

Powerplex represents more than a single project. It is an opportunity to:

• Demonstrate how advanced energy technologies can be deployed safely and effectively
• Connect infrastructure investment with research and education
• Support regional and national energy innovation

As the planning study progresses, additional details will be refined and shared. What remains constant is the vision: to position Missouri S&T at the forefront of next-generation energy systems and their real-world application.

Several major steps must be completed before Powerplex could move forward:

First, the planning study must define the technical approach, cost structure, and integration strategy with campus systems. This provides the foundation for all subsequent decisions.

Next, the project would require:

• Securing funding and partnerships
• Completing detailed design and engineering
• Conducting environmental and safety analyses
• Submitting and obtaining approvals through the nuclear regulatory process

These steps are complex and will take place over multiple years. Each stage is designed to ensure that the project is safe, feasible, and aligned with the university’s mission.

There is no single decision-maker. Instead, the project must be approved at multiple levels.

Federal agencies would play a key role, particularly in areas such as funding, fuel supply, and program alignment. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would evaluate safety and issue the licenses required for construction and operation. State agencies would also be involved in oversight and emergency planning.

At the same time, Missouri S&T leadership and governing bodies would determine whether the project aligns with institutional priorities. Public input and stakeholder engagement are also important parts of the process.

Only if all of these groups are satisfied would the project be able to move forward.

Missouri S&T is committed to keeping the community informed as the project evolves. Updates will be shared through university channels, public engagement efforts, and materials connected to MSTR Reimagined.  You can always find the most up-to-date information on this site.

Input from stakeholders and the broader community will continue to play an important role as planning moves forward.

At this stage, Powerplex is not expected to directly affect electricity bills for most residents of Rolla.  The project is being developed primarily as a campus-based energy and research system, rather than a utility-scale power plant that supplies electricity to the broader community. Any electricity or thermal energy produced would first be used for campus operations, research activities, and demonstration purposes, not distributed widely through the local retail electricity market.
Because of this, the project is designed not to raise local rates, and there is no current mechanism by which its costs would be passed on to residential customers.

Over the longer term, Powerplex could have indirect benefits for the community. For example, if the system helps the university reduce its reliance on purchased energy or volatile fuel sources, it could contribute to more stable operating costs for local utilities. In addition, the project may support regional economic development, workforce training, and partnerships that strengthen the local energy and technology landscape.

As part of the ongoing planning study, the project team is evaluating how Powerplex would integrate with campus and regional energy systems. That process will help clarify whether there are any future opportunities for broader energy impact. If such opportunities emerge, they would be carefully reviewed to ensure they are beneficial, transparent, and aligned with community interests.

For now, residents can expect no direct change to their electricity bills as a result of the Powerplex project.