Factory-built microreactors. Power for data centers and industry.
Valar Atomics is a nuclear energy company that intends to mass-produce factory-built microreactors and supply power directly to data centers and industrial sites.Los Angeles Times
- What they build
Ward 250 is Valar's test reactor at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab: a 100 kilowatt-thermal high-temperature gas reactor running on TRISO fuel, with helium cooling and graphite moderation.ANS Nuclear News
- Where they stand
The Department of Energy said Ward 250 completed a zero-power fueled criticality demonstration on 18 June 2026 under its Reactor Pilot Program, and described that step as zero-power testing rather than commercial generation.US Department of Energy
- Regulatory status
Valar holds no Nuclear Regulatory Commission license. Ward 250's design has not been approved by the NRC, and the reactor operates under Department of Energy pilot authorization instead.Canary Media
- Who runs it
Isaiah Taylor founded Valar and still leads it as chief executive, across both the Ward 250 project and its financing rounds.Canary Media
- Who's backed them
Sequoia Capital led a $1 billion equity round in August 2026, alongside a $200 million credit facility from Erebor and other banks. The $6 billion valuation attached to it was reported in the press and not disclosed by the company.Los Angeles Times
Compiled from publicly available sources, September 2026. 6 sources. Every statement above links to its own.