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Rockwell Automation to Power Control Systems for Aalo-X Critical Test Reactor
The collaboration supports Aalo's participation in the U.S. Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program, an initiative to accelerate the development, authorization and validation of advanced nuclear technologies.
www.rockwellautomation.com
Rockwell Automation has partnered with Aalo Atomics to serve as the control platform provider for the Aalo-X test reactor. The collaboration supports the development of fully modular nuclear plants engineered to provide power for modern artificial intelligence data centers.
Context of the Cooperation
Modern artificial intelligence data centers require high volumes of power, driving demand for fully modular nuclear plants that can scale independently of traditional electrical grids. Accelerating the development, authorization, and validation of advanced nuclear technologies introduces distinct technical complexities in system reliability and operational monitoring.
To address these development challenges, cooperation was established between the automation vendor and the reactor developer. The partnership combines Rockwell Automation’s industrial automation and digital transformation capabilities with Aalo Atomics' modular reactor engineering. This collaborative program supports Aalo’s participation in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program, an initiative designed to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear technology.
Technical Solution and Responsibilities
The technological solution focuses on integrating industrial control infrastructure into a first-of-its-kind reactor architecture. Responsibilities within the program are distributed to align advanced control software with nuclear facility orchestration:
- Rockwell Automation is responsible for delivering the comprehensive suite of integrated control and information solutions, including its proprietary ControlLogix® platform.
- Aalo Atomics manages the overarching reactor architecture, safety parameters, and the modular plant design lifecycle.
At a system level, the ControlLogix® platform provides safe, scalable control loops across the entire facility lifecycle, spanning from initial design stages through active operations. According to Brian Holte, VP of Global Industry Sales at Rockwell Automation, the platform demonstrates how flexible, resilient architectures can enable new energy technologies and advanced reactor designs at scale. Yasir Arafat, President & CTO of Aalo Atomics, stated that mission-critical control systems are essential for achieving accelerated program milestones safely and efficiently on the path toward commercial power.
Deployment or Implementation
The implementation strategy focuses on using the Aalo-X test reactor as a live operational testbed to validate system performance and operational readiness parameters. As part of the deployment program, Aalo successfully reached criticality on its pilot reactor ahead of its July 4, 2026 deadline.
Subsequent implementation phases will involve ongoing technical collaboration through the DOE pilot program framework. The data and operational metrics gathered from the Aalo-X testbed will serve as a technical baseline to guide the design, integration, and engineering configurations of future commercial modular nuclear deployments.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
Deployment or Implementation
The implementation strategy focuses on using the Aalo-X test reactor as a live operational testbed to validate system performance and operational readiness parameters. As part of the deployment program, Aalo successfully reached criticality on its pilot reactor ahead of its July 4, 2026 deadline.
Subsequent implementation phases will involve ongoing technical collaboration through the DOE pilot program framework. The data and operational metrics gathered from the Aalo-X testbed will serve as a technical baseline to guide the design, integration, and engineering configurations of future commercial modular nuclear deployments.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
