Deep Fission wants to bury nuclear reactors a mile underground to power data centers. (KCUR)
The California startup plans to install reactors in Kansas, Texas, and Utah. Each reactor would sit in a 30-inch borehole surrounded by natural rock “shielding,” designed to make the system safer, cheaper, and invisible from the surface.
The tech could deliver on-site nuclear power to energy-hungry industries, without the siting battles that often stall above-ground plants. The company claims 100 underground reactors could fit on just 3 acres and produce 1.5 GW of electricity.
What’s next: Deep Fission aims to build its first reactor by July 2026 under Trump’s fast-track nuclear pilot program.