Department of Energy grants $82 million in nuclear research grants

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) announced on Tuesday that it will award more than $82 million in nuclear energy research, technology and infrastructure funding for 93 projects in 28 U.S. states to advance the nation’s nuclear energy portfolio.

The funding seeks to support innovative nuclear research toward the creation of commercialized products. The awards include funding for various U.S. nuclear initiatives, including Nuclear Energy University programs, Nuclear Enabling Technology programs, and access to expertise and guide through the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program.

“Nuclear power is our nation’s largest source of low-carbon electricity and is a vital component in our efforts to both provide affordable and reliable electricity and to combat climate change,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “These awards will help scientists and engineers as they continue to innovate with advanced nuclear technologies.”

The DoE issued its awards across several research and technology categories, including nuclear science user facilities, crosscutting and integrated research projects, public-private partnerships, and nuclear energy university programs. Recipients include the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, nuclear innovators and 15 national universities.

The DoE’s Office of Nuclear Energy has issued approximately $464 million in grants to 113 U.S. colleges and universities since 2009 for the development of nuclear technology as a clean energy alternative to carbon-heavy fuels.