Energy Department awards $67 million for advanced nuclear technology projects
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced nearly $67 million in awards for advanced nuclear energy technology across 85 projects in 28 states.
The awards will support nuclear energy research, facility access, crosscutting technology development and infrastructure development through the Nuclear Energy University (NEUP) Program, Nuclear Science
User Facilities (NSUF), Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET) programs and the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative.
“Investing in the future of nuclear energy is an important strategic priority for the Energy Department,”
Ed McGinnis, DOE’s acting assistant secretary for nuclear energy, said. “Nuclear energy technologies contribute to our economy, our environment, and our national security, and I look forward to seeing these projects add to those contributions in the years ahead.”
The projects represent public-private partnerships, integrated research projects as well as university- and industry-led initiatives.
Through DOE’s NEUP program, the agency is investing more than $31 million in 32 university-led nuclear energy research and development projects in 23 states. 19 additional universities will receive approximately $6 million for research reactor and infrastructure enhancements.
Three Integrated Research Projects (IRPs) will receive $11 million. ITPs are three-year projects conducted by university-led consortiums that often include multiple universities, industrial and international research entities and DOE national laboratories.
Additionally, $6 million was awarded for projects concerning crosscutting nuclear energy challenges by developing advanced sensors and instrumentation advanced manufacturing methods and materials for nuclear reactor plant and fuel applications.
DOE also selected five university-led, four national laboratory-led, and five industry-led projects that will utilize NSUF capabilities to explore important nuclear fuel and material applications. Six projects will be awarded $2.3 million in research funds, and all 14 projects will receive over $10 million in facility access costs, expertise and technical assistance.
