New Agreement Unlocks Americium-241 Supply Chain for Space-Grade Nuclear Batteries

Zeno Power and Orano have announced a strategic agreement to establish a reliable supply of americium-241 (Am-241) — a long-lived isotope uniquely suited for space nuclear power systems. The partnership leverages Orano’s expertise in used nuclear fuel recycling to supply Am-241 extracted from its La Hague facility in Normandy, France.

Under the agreement, Zeno Power will make a multi-million-dollar investment to gain priority access to significant annual quantities of Am-241, ensuring a stable and diversified fuel source for its advanced radioisotope power systems (RPS). The collaboration marks a major step toward building a sustainable and resilient nuclear fuel supply chain to power missions beyond Earth.

Powering the Next Era of Space Exploration

Zeno’s space nuclear batteries — or RPS units — are being designed to provide long-duration, autonomous energy for lunar and deep-space missions. Traditionally, RPSs have relied on plutonium-238 (Pu-238) as the heat source for generating electricity. However, the isotope’s limited global availability and increasing demand have created an urgent need for alternative fuels.

Americium-241, with its half-life of more than 430 years, provides a sustainable and scalable supplement to Pu-238. Zeno is currently developing an Am-241–fueled RPS for NASA, which will power lunar rovers, landers, and surface infrastructure under the Artemis program and the broader Moon-to-Mars initiative. These systems will supply reliable energy through the lunar night and in permanently shadowed regions — conditions where solar power is not viable.

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“This agreement with Orano secures a long-term Am-241 supply for our space nuclear batteries while advancing Zeno’s broader mission to build a robust multi-fuel ecosystem,” said Tyler Bernstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Zeno Power. “By pairing americium-241 for space missions with strontium-90 for maritime and terrestrial applications, Zeno’s systems will deliver continuous power across the most extreme frontiers — from deep sea to deep space.”

Closing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Americium-241 is not newly produced but recovered from used nuclear fuel, where it forms naturally through the decay of other isotopes. Orano’s industrial-scale recycling operations at La Hague provide the technical foundation for extracting and refining this valuable isotope for commercial use.

“Working with Zeno demonstrates the immense value of recycling used nuclear fuel,” said Corinne Spilios, Senior Executive Vice President of Orano’s Recycling Business Unit. “By recovering americium-241, we are turning what was once considered waste into a powerful resource for advanced applications like space power systems. It’s a tangible example of how recycling conserves natural resources while enabling innovation.”

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This collaboration positions Orano as a global leader in americium recovery and reinforces Europe’s role in the circular nuclear economy. The ability to repurpose material once designated as waste into a strategic fuel for future space exploration underscores the economic and environmental benefits of closing the nuclear fuel cycle.

Building a Multi-Fuel Future

Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA, added, “Americium-241 represents a breakthrough opportunity to show the real-world value of used nuclear fuel recycling. Our collaboration with Zeno Power demonstrates how industrial recovery of valuable isotopes can create entirely new markets and technologies. As we like to say: it’s only waste if you waste it.”

Through this partnership, Zeno Power and Orano are not only expanding the boundaries of space energy technology but also redefining how the world views nuclear materials — turning yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s power.

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“Orano’s world-class recycling expertise enables us to harness americium-241 as a practical new fuel for the growing demand for nuclear power,” said Harsh S. Desai, Chief Commercialization Officer at Zeno Power. “Together, we are transforming recycled material into reliable energy that will power humanity’s most ambitious missions — from the Moon to Mars and beyond.”

Beyond its work in space, Zeno Power is also developing strontium-fueled nuclear batteries for maritime applications under a U.S. Department of Defense contract. With Am-241 now secured through Orano and Sr-90 supplied by the U.S. Department of Energy, Zeno is assembling a comprehensive portfolio of nuclear batteries capable of providing compact, long-duration power across land, sea, and space domains.