TL;DR
- Zeno Power has secured a strategic agreement with Orano to source americium-241 (Am-241) from recycled nuclear fuel in France.
- This fuel will power Zeno’s nuclear batteries for lunar missions, helping NASA operate in dark or shadowed regions on the Moon.
- Am-241 offers a longer-lasting and more available alternative to traditional plutonium-based fuels.
- The deal strengthens Zeno’s fuel supply chain and supports dual-use applications across space and maritime domains.
Zeno and Orano Team Up on Nuclear Space Power
Zeno Power, one of our portfolio companies, has signed a major supply deal with Orano, a global leader in nuclear recycling, to source americium-241 (Am-241) from used nuclear fuel. This agreement ensures Zeno gets priority access to this valuable isotope, produced at Orano’s La Hague recycling site in Normandy.
The partnership marks a big step for Zeno, which is developing compact nuclear batteries to power critical missions in space, at sea, and on Earth. As part of our portfolio, Zeno continues to lead the frontier in dual-use energy solutions.
What’s New in the Announcement
- Zeno has made a multi-million-dollar investment to access Am-241 fuel annually from Orano’s recycling facility.
- This fuel will power Zeno’s nuclear batteries—officially called radioisotope power systems (RPS)—for use in NASA’s lunar missions.
- These batteries are designed to work during the long, cold lunar night and in permanently shadowed areas where solar panels fail.
- The agreement follows years of collaboration between Zeno and Orano, including technical feasibility studies since 2022.
Why This Matters: Powering Space with Recycled Fuel
Space missions need power sources that last for years without sunlight. Plutonium-238 has been the go-to fuel, but it’s scarce and expensive.
Am-241 offers a practical solution:
- Long-lasting: It has a half-life of over 430 years, making it ideal for long-term missions.
- Sustainably sourced: It’s found in used nuclear fuel, so Orano can recover it through recycling.
- More accessible: Am-241 is more available than plutonium-238, making it a scalable fuel option.
This development unlocks more frequent and flexible missions to the Moon, Mars, and deep space, supporting NASA’s Artemis and Moon to Mars programmes.
In Their Own Words
“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.”
What’s Next for Zeno?
With its fuel supply chain now secured, Zeno is on track to:
- Deliver its first Am-241-powered batteries in the coming years.
- Support NASA’s lunar ambitions by powering rovers, landers, and infrastructure.
- Scale its dual-use battery portfolio across military, commercial, and scientific missions.
We are proud to back Zeno as it brings reliable power to places where no other energy source can go.
