Zeno completes demonstration of its first Strontium-90 radioisotope heat source
Zeno Power, a leading developer of commercial radioisotope power systems (RPSs), has completed the design, fabrication, and testing of its first strontium-90 (Sr-90) heat source – the first ever commercially-developed radioisotope heat source. The completed heat source is a key milestone for Zeno to begin delivering RPSs to customers in 2026.
The demonstration, performed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA, confirmed that Zeno's patented innovation increases the specific power (Wth/kg) of its Sr-90heat source compared to historic Sr-90 heat sources. It also verifies that Zeno’s fabrication process can be translated and demonstrated in a hot cell environment using radiological material.
Radioisotope heat sources are the “building blocks” of Zeno’s RPSs. They supply constant thermal energy that can be converted into electricity. Given its relative abundance, Sr-90 has been used and deployed in RPSs before but historically the systems were heavy, constraining their use to limited terrestrial applications. Zeno’s key innovation is a novel design that increases the specific power of Sr-90 heat sources, enabling broad use of its RPSs in space and terrestrially.
Work at PNNL involved radioactive and non-radioactive activities, including chemical processing and fuel fabrication, materials handling, and heat source characterization. Testing performed during heat source characterization has provided valuable first-of-a-kind benchmarking data that will support the development of future Zeno heat sources.
“The completion of the Z1 demonstration is a historic moment that marks the beginning of the commercial RPS era,” said Zeno Chief Product Officer Lindsey Boles. “In only five years, Zeno Power went from its founding to fabrication of nuclear hardware, which is notably fast for the nuclear industry. We are now a clear leader and vanguard in delivering advanced nuclear technologies for space and maritime applications.”
“In only five years, Zeno Power went from its founding to fabrication of nuclear hardware, which is notably fast for the nuclear industry. We are now a clear leader and vanguard in delivering advanced nuclear technologies for space and maritime applications..”
Lindsey Boles, Chief Product Officer
Zeno RPSs will provide clean, safe, and reliable power in off-grid environments – from the surface of the Moon to the seabed. To date, Zeno has been awarded over $40M in government contracts and is on track to commercialize its technology by 2026 in support of commercial, national security, and science missions.
Zeno commemorated this milestone in Tri-Cities, WA, with a gathering of local community leaders and officials representing state and federal government, the U.S. Space Force, the U.S. Navy, NASA, and several other customers and stakeholders.
“By converting legacy Sr-90 into a long-lasting source of clean energy, Zeno has the potential to play a major role in the cleanup to clean energy vision here in the Tri-Cities. At TRIDEC, we’re proud to support Zeno’s efforts that we believe will benefit our local communities while supporting national security goals and the broader clean energy transition,” said David Reeploeg, Vice President for Federal Programs at the Tri-Cities Development Council in Kennewick, Washington.
