Nuclear Energy Initiative-sponsored discussion panel focuses on successes of public-private partnerships
A discussion panel focusing on the successes of public-private partnerships among the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories, academia, and the private sector was recently hosted by the Senate National Laboratory Caucus and the House Science and National Labs Caucus and was sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).
“The U.S. benefits in many ways from the presence of a strong domestic nuclear energy industry—including the ability to create domestic jobs, build long-term international influence, and strengthen safety and nonproliferation behaviors around the globe,” Dan Lipman, vice president of Suppliers, New Reactors and International Programs at NEI said in his opening statements.
Among the provisions in the recently-introduced House appropriations bill included a total of $35 million for research and development into a multifaceted fast test reactor.
“The national laboratory system is uniquely capable in assisting the nuclear industry’s push to commercialize technology innovations,” Jeffrey Binder, director of the Argonne National Laboratory, said.
He continued, stating that public-private partnerships can provide for the industry’s research and development needs on a cost-effective basis and that the labs also have a reactor demonstration and testing capabilities not abatable in the private neutron test reactor capabilities not available in the private sector.
One DOE initiative, the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN), provides private sector nuclear energy researchers with access to the department’s technical and regulatory expertise, the benefits of which were highlighted by event attendees.
“In the past two years, GAIN has enabled public-private partnerships that normally would not be achievable,” Rita Baranwal, director of GAIN, said.
X-energy LLC President Harlan Bowers reiterated other speakers’ sentiments on the benefits of public-private ventures, stating that the progress his company has been making could not have happened without the collaboration, partnership, and expertise that resides in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Idaho national Laboratories.
“The most feasible way to get past the more than $1 billion required to complete our reactor design is through public-private partnerships with DOE to help us through detailed design and construction,” Bowers said. “If we continue on this path, both the advanced reactor industry and the labs will continue to thrive.”
