Ameresco, a leading U.S. energy infrastructure services firm, and NANO Nuclear Energy Inc., a pre‑revenue company developing modular microreactor technology, entered into a non‑binding memorandum of understanding on Jan. 12, 2026. The agreement will allow Ameresco to evaluate the integration of NANO’s KRONOS, ZEUS, and LOKI microreactor systems into its engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) framework for federal and commercial sites.
The partnership is part of Ameresco’s broader strategy to diversify its clean‑energy portfolio beyond solar, battery, and renewable natural gas. Ameresco recently hired Cenk Güler as Director of Nuclear Partnerships to lead its entry into the nuclear market, signaling a deliberate, long‑term focus on small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. By combining Ameresco’s EPC expertise with NANO’s advanced reactor designs, the companies aim to offer firm, dispatchable power that can complement existing renewable assets at data centers, federal installations, and other critical infrastructure.
NANO Nuclear’s microreactor portfolio is still in the pre‑revenue stage and has not yet received U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval or built a physical prototype. The KRONOS system is a stationary, high‑temperature gas‑cooled reactor; ZEUS is a portable solid‑core battery reactor; and LOKI is a space‑focused, portable microreactor. The MOU does not commit either party to a specific investment or project, but it opens a pathway for NANO to validate its technology in real‑world settings and for Ameresco to assess commercial viability and regulatory pathways.
Management comments underscore the strategic fit. NANO’s founder Jay Yu said the MOU “marks another milestone for NANO as we continue to build customer demand for our approach to delivering reliable, modular nuclear microreactor energy systems.” Ameresco’s President of Federal Solutions, Nicole Bulgarino, noted that the collaboration “strengthens our ability to deliver reliable, cost‑effective, and sustainable energy solutions that meet the evolving needs of our federal customers and the data center and industrial markets.” These statements highlight the companies’ shared goal of providing low‑carbon, dispatchable power to meet growing demand for resilient energy.
The deal reflects broader industry trends. Microreactors and SMRs are gaining traction as clean, scalable power sources for data centers, industrial sites, and grid modernization. Ameresco’s existing federal footprint—including a $5 billion Generation 4 contract with the Department of Energy—positions it to deploy NANO’s reactors at government sites, while the partnership could open new revenue streams for Ameresco and accelerate NANO’s path to regulatory approval.
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