A Washington-based company is set to use the new type of nuclear waste to power space batteries. Zeno Power will use americium-241 (Am-241), a long-lived isotope uniquely suited for space power.

Americium-241 will fuel Zeno’s space nuclear batteries, also known as radioisotope power systems (RPS).

Currently, Zeno is developing an americium-fueled RPS for NASA to power lunar rovers, landers, and infrastructure on the Moon.

Nuclear batteries will deliver reliable power

These space nuclear batteries will deliver the reliable power needed to survive the lunar night and operate in permanently shadowed areas – capabilities that are vital to the Artemis program and NASA’s Moon to Mars initiative, according to the company.

To secure a reliable supply of americium-241 (Am-241), Zeno Power has signed a strategic agreement with Orano.

The company will provide americium-241 from its used nuclear fuel recycling operations.

Radioisotope power systems (RPSs) in space

The new agreement brings together Zeno, the leading developer of nuclear batteries, and Orano, a recognized leading operator in nuclear fuel cycle material production and management, to secure a reliable and diversified nuclear fuel supply chain for Zeno’s power sources.

Under the agreement, Zeno will make a multi-million-dollar investment to obtain priority access to large quantities of Am-241 per year from Orano’s la Hague recycling site in Normandy, France.

So far, radioisotope power systems (RPSs) in space have utilized plutonium-238 (Pu-238) as a fuel source. Still, the isotope’s limited global supply and the rising demand for reliable space power have accelerated the search for additional viable fuel sources.

Sustainable supplement

Americium-241 offers a sustainable supplement to Pu-238, expanding the fuel options for long-duration space nuclear power. Zeno is currently developing an americium-fueled RPS for NASA to power lunar rovers, landers, and infrastructure on the Moon.

“Working with Orano is a pivotal step in advancing Zeno’s multi-fuel approach,” said Tyler Bernstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeno Power.

“By pairing americium-241 for space missions with strontium-90 for maritime and terrestrial deployments, Zeno’s nuclear batteries will unlock operations in the frontier, from deep sea to deep space.”

Am-241 is an attractive fuel source for space nuclear batteries because of its long half-life of more than 430 years, enabling power systems to last for decades. It is also naturally produced through the decay of other isotopes found in used nuclear fuel. Leveraging its proven industrial recycling capabilities, Orano will recover Am-241 from used fuel processed at its La Hague site, positioning itself as a global leader in Am-241 production, according to a press release.

“Our work with Zeno demonstrates one of the significant values of recycling used nuclear fuel,” said Corinne Spilios, senior executive vice president of Orano’s Recycling Business Unit.

“By recovering americium-241, we can gain value from material once designated as waste by retrieving and using one of the isotopes for an advanced application such as space power systems. This agreement once again demonstrates the value of recycling recoverable nuclear materials, which allows for energy production while conserving natural resources.”