'A power bank for the AI era': China begins testing miniature, truck-mounted 10MW nuclear reactor designed to sustain massive data centers for decades without refueling while promising to make traditional dirty coal and diesel generators entirely obsolete
The reactor can be transported to areas where power is unavailable or unreliable
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/wayne-williams · TechRadarNews By Wayne Williams published 30 April 2026
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- China testing mobile nuclear reactor capable of powering AI data centers
- Prototype truck-mounted reactor built for decades of operation without refueling
- Portable 10MW nuclear unit targets remote power supply and AI workloads
China is testing a nuclear reactor small enough to ride on a truck, a project that scientists say could help solve the rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence systems.
The South China Morning Post reports the reactor is the world’s first 10MW vehicle-mounted nuclear power unit, developed over several years and now moving toward real-world use.
The output is enough to power a medium-sized AI data center, where uninterrupted electricity is essential.
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Servicing unavailable or unreliable grid areas
Wu Yican, chief scientific adviser to the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, told Science and Technology Daily, “The ‘nuclear power bank’ we proposed exemplifies the new generation of nuclear energy systems. This technology offers exceptional safety in a remarkably compact size and an operational lifespan of decades without recharging.”
Mobility is central to the concept, since the reactor can be transported by truck to areas where traditional grid connections are unavailable or unreliable.
“It offers a solution to ‘battery anxiety’ in different applications, including providing power for remote regions and islands, delivering emergency backup power in special environments, propelling ships, powering space systems and supporting AI computing and data centers,” Wu said.
He explained next-generation nuclear systems should be built around safety and adaptability. “They should be approachable, flexible and intelligent, enabling them to meet the future’s diverse energy needs,” Wu said.
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