US DOE invests in advancing nuclear technology

The US Department of Energy announced more than USD 60M in nuclear energy research and infrastructure enhancement awards. Sixty-eight projects from across the US were selected based on their potential to create scientific breakthroughs that both help strengthen the nation’s energy security and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.



As part of the announcement, the Energy Department is awarding over USD 31M to 43 university-led nuclear energy research and development projects across 23 states to develop innovative technologies and solutions through its Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). Approximately USD 3.5M will also be awarded to nine universities for research reactor and infrastructure improvements. With these awards, the Department continues its successful nuclear energy research collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK). Four of the NEUP projects include UK research collaborators who will receive an additional USD 2.6M from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences.



The Energy Department is also awarding USD 13M for four Integrated Research Projects that will deliver solutions to high-priority nuclear energy research challenges. Additionally, USD 8.5M will be awarded for 10 research and development projects in support of the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Crosscutting Technology Development Program to address crosscutting nuclear energy challenges. Two additional infrastructure enhancement totalling over USD 1M will be awarded to Department of Energy national laboratories to further reactor materials and instrumentation research.

