|  | | Neutrinos were first conceived of in a desperate ploy to save the conservation of energy in
nuclear beta decay. From a nuclear engineering perspective, they are an ever present but
ultimately inconsequential by-products of nuclear fission. But to particle physicists, nuclear
reactors are an essential and extraordinarily bright source of neutrinos, which are responsible for
some of the most important advancements of the last 70 years, from the discovery of the
neutrino at the Savannah River’s P reactor in 1956, through current times when reactors are used
as the source for studies of neutrino fundamental properties.
Advances in neutrino detector technology and a recent finding that neutrinos can be used to track
the production of plutonium in the core have made it possible for particle physicists to
contemplate giving back to the nuclear industry. As a new type of non-invasive instrumentation,
neutrino detectors may, for example, have a role to play in non-proliferation safeguard regimes,
particularly for advanced reactors. Ultimately, the potential of neutrino applications can only be
properly assessed in a collaborative effort between particle physicists and nuclear engineers.
This webinar will review the discoveries and other major advances in neutrino physics that have
been enabled by nuclear reactors, and explore the ways that neutrino detectors may be used to
monitor reactors or as reactor instrumentation.
REGISTER HERE | 11/5/2020 | |  | | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it has selected two U.S.-based teams to receive $160 million in initial funding under the new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). ARDP, announced in May, is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.
DOE is awarding TerraPower LLC (Bellevue, WA) and X-energy (Rockville, MD) $80 million each in initial funding to build two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years. The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry that will deliver two first-of-a-kind advanced reactors to be licensed for commercial operations. The Department will invest a total of $3.2 billion over seven years, subject to the availability of future appropriations, with our industry partners providing matching funds.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
| 10/13/2020 | | | | WASHINGTON, D.C. – – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced funding for three domestic projects that will accelerate advanced nuclear technology development. These projects, valued at $26.9 million including industry cost-share contributions, will allow industry-led teams to advance the state of domestic commercial nuclear capability. Two awards will advance flexible operation of light-water reactors with integrated hydrogen production systems. The third will leverage the modeling and simulation capabilities developed from the DOE Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program and Energy Innovation Hub for Modeling & Simulation (Hub). The awards are through the Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development, in collaboration with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office for the hydrogen-related selections. Subsequent application reviews and selection processes will be conducted through December 2022, as supported by Congressional appropriations.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
| 10/8/2020 | | | | Small and micro-scale modular reactors have received considerable attention for their potential to
reduce costs, load follow and meet electricity needs in places where the size of conventional reactor
technologies is unwarranted. This small scale is particularly relevant in the developing world where
large centralized grids are uncommon and the need for electricity is considerable. More than
1 billion people globally are currently estimated to live without access to any electricity. The
Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for reliable, affordable and clean energy for all people
by 2030, creating an additional imperative for rapid low carbon technological deployment. This talk
will present a novel market analysis of near-term energy demand. We use state-of-the-art satellite
imagery to identify regions with no night-time light as a proxy for electricity poverty, and ambient
population to determine the number of persons in these regions. GIS is used to create
corresponding maps showing the capacity needed to provide this degree of electricity as a function
of location if only micro and mini-grids are available. Additional considerations including resilience
to natural hazards, siting considerations and competitive technologies are discussed.
READ MORE
| 10/1/2020 | |  | | This Request for Information (RFI) is intended to gather information on the various micro-reactor
technology options available for fixed-site applications only and to survey commercial stakeholders
interested in the potential to finance, construct, install, operate, and own a micro-reactor for the
notional requirements outlined in this RFI. It should be noted that while this RFI is focused on fixedsite applications, there may be cases where micro-reactor technology developed for mobile
applications provides the capabilities required for fixed-site applications. The responses to this request
will provide important information and insights for the Government’s potential pursuit of a microreactor pilot program.
READ MORE
 DLA Energy Request for Information – Air Force OEA: Micro Reactor Pilot Program
| 9/22/2020 | |  | | The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that three
nuclear companies will be provided GAIN Nuclear Energy (NE) Vouchers to accelerate the
innovation and application of advanced nuclear technologies. NE vouchers provide
advanced nuclear technology innovators with access to the extensive nuclear research
capabilities and expertise available across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national
laboratory complex. This is the fourth set of awards in FY 2020.
The businesses selected to receive GAIN nuclear energy vouchers for Round 4 FY 2020 are: Kairos Power - Alameda, CA, Natura Resouces, LLC - Abilene, TX, TerraPower, LLC - Bellevue, WA READ ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT
| 9/16/2020 | | | | Many cities, states, utilities, and public commissions are setting energy standards that aim to reduce carbon
emissions. In order to realize a clean and resilient energy future, new methods of energy production,
distribution, and use will be required. The primary focus of the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Program
on Integrated Energy Systems, led by researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), has been to assess the
potential of integrated energy systems to enhance the flexibility and utilization of nuclear reactors alongside
renewable generators and, thereby, to maximize the use of the clean energy provided by these systems. This
work begins with the question: “What goals are we trying to achieve, and how will the produced energy be
used?” These questions must be addressed within the context of a specific deployment location, which has
implications relative to the electricity market structure, supply, and demand; available feedstock for industrial
processes; and available product markets. Product streams, ranging from potable water to hydrogen, fertilizer,
synthetic fuels, and various chemicals, have been considered. Each product stream has its own market and
market drivers and its own geographic location that would maximize profitability. Some of these products
would only require electricity to support production, while others require both thermal and electrical energy.
This webinar highlights work led by INL, in collaboration with other national laboratories and industry partners,
to evaluate integrated energy system options that utilize nuclear energy in new ways. By working with key
collaborators in the nuclear industry, these analytical studies are now becoming a reality in demonstration
projects.
READ MORE
| 9/15/2020 | | | | Kemal Pasamehmetoglu is known for being both innovative and candid. So, looking
back to when the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) was founded
in December 2015, he readily acknowledges that “in the first seven to eight months,
we tried to define what GAIN really meant.” There were numerous meetings with Department of Energy (DOE) program
managers, a roadshow to national laboratories, emphasizing how they could be part
of the program, and discussions with private industry about GAIN’s potential benefits. “We needed to determine how to best line up the existing programs and be helpful,”
Pasamehmetoglu, GAIN’s first director, said. There was a focus to ensure the “being
helpful” metric applied to every corner of the nuclear community, especially private
reactor developers. GAIN has been highly successful at being helpful. In being broadly understood, not so
much. READ MORE
| 9/10/2020 | |  | | WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), along with Sens. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) sent a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki applauding the commission for initiating development of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for advanced reactors. The senators also called on the commission to broaden the scope of the proposed generic environmental impact statement to make the document easier to use. The letter also requests the commission to consider actions to improve the environmental permitting of advanced reactors. In the letter, the senators request the NRC align the proposal with the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). NEIMA requires the NRC to establish a regulatory framework for the NRC to license and utilities to deploy advanced nuclear technologies that reflects safer and smaller reactor designs. This will help nuclear innovators have a predictable and efficient regulatory process.
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| 7/24/2020 | |  | | Battelle Energy Alliance seeks industry partners to design nuclear power system for moon
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the managing and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is seeking information from leaders in the nuclear and space industries to develop innovative technologies for a fission surface power (FSP) system that can be operated on the moon. The request for information can be viewed here. Responses are sought by Sept. 8. After receiving responses, INL will issue a request for proposal.Sponsored by NASA in collaboration with the Department of the Energy and INL, the request for information seeks partnership on technologies and approaches to test and validate an FSP design that can be built and deployed on the moon, and used for subsequent missions such as to Mars.READ MORE
| 7/24/2020 | |  | | U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today thanked her colleagues for supporting the inclusion of S. 903, her Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), in S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. The Senate today passed the NDAA bill, with NELA incorporated by amendment, by a vote of 86 to 14.
“For too long, the United States has lagged woefully behind on innovative nuclear energy technologies, which comes at great cost to our economy, our global leadership, and the environment,” Murkowski said. “The Department of Defense is a logical first customer for advanced reactors, especially the microreactors currently under development, which can be deployed to remote regions. Nuclear energy can also provide safe, clean, and affordable power to homes, schools, and businesses that traditionally rely on more costly energy sources.”
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| 7/23/2020 | |  | | "Today marks a significant step forward in U.S. efforts to support the energy needs of allies around the world. The change also positions DFC to accelerate growth in developing economies with limited energy resources," said DFC Chief Executive Officer Adam Boehler. "We look forward to exploring opportunities to leverage this new capability to deliver affordable, reliable, and emission-free energy where it is needed most. At the same time, these efforts will also advance innovative technologies that adhere to the United States' high safety, security, and non-proliferation standards." "I applaud the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for moving forward with the implementation of a key recommendation of President Trump's Nuclear Fuel Working Group Strategy," said Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. "Over the past three years, Department of Energy officials have met with government and private industry around the world who are eager to import American civil nuclear technology, yet funding challenges prevented them from doing so as a result of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation's legacy ban on financing of nuclear projects. Reversing this ban is a commonsense action that will increase global energy security and help other countries meet their own emissions reduction goals while providing their citizens with reliable baseload generation."
READ MORE
| 7/23/2020 | |  | | The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has accepted for review a Combined License
application from Oklo Power LLC. to build and operate the company’s Aurora reactor at the Idaho
National Laboratory site in Idaho.
READ MORE
| 6/15/2020 | | | | The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that two
nuclear companies will be provided GAIN Nuclear Energy (NE) Vouchers to accelerate the
innovation and application of advanced nuclear technologies. NE vouchers provide
advanced nuclear technology innovators with access to the extensive nuclear research
capabilities and expertise available across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national
laboratory complex. This is the third set of awards in FY 2020. The businesses selected to receive GAIN nuclear energy vouchers for Round 3 FY2020 are: SMR, LLc, Camden, NJ and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation - Technologies, Seattle, WA READ ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT
| 6/11/2020 | | | | Just as in all other industries, sustainability is vital to nuclear energy production.
Recycling of nuclear fuel contributes to the environmental and social pillars of that
sustainability because it simultaneously improves natural resources utilization and waste
minimization. This webinar provides additional insight to the consequences of repetitive
fuel recycling and compares selected reactors based on their neutronics performance in
the closed Th-U and U-Pu cycles.
READ MORE
| 6/9/2020 | | | | The Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership is a direct outcome from the efforts of the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group established by the President in his July 12, 2019 Memorandum on the Effect of Uranium Imports on the National Security and Establishment of the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group. This comprehensive strategy includes policy recommendations on Executive, Congressional, and regulatory actions that could be taken to enhance the positive attributes of nuclear power, revive capabilities of the uranium mining, milling, and conversion industries, strengthen U.S. technology supremacy, and drive U.S. exports, while assuring consistency with U.S. nonproliferation objectives and supporting national security.
READ MORE | 5/29/2020 | |  | | In 2015, The Nuclear Alternative Project
(NAP), a non-profit organization
comprised of Puerto Rican engineers,
embarked on a journey to inform the
people of Puerto Rico about the
technological innovations of advanced
nuclear reactors and their capabilities. In
the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, where
more than 3,000 deaths were attributed
to the lack of electricity and basic
services, our educational effort evolved
into one of need – to evaluate the
feasibility of advanced nuclear reactors
for Puerto Rico. As nuclear industry engineers and
professionals we have labored to
maintain the safety of nuclear reactors in
the United States. We are using this
same passion and knowledge base to assess the feasibility of advanced nuclear reactors to
address Puerto Rico’s pressing energy needs.
READ MORE
| 5/21/2020 | | | | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the launch of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) within the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). ARDP is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.For the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, Congress appropriated $230 million to start a new demonstration program for advanced reactors. Through cost-shared partnerships with industry, ARDP will provide $160 million for initial funding to build two reactors that can be operational within the next 5 to 7 years.“The next generation of nuclear energy is critical to our Nation’s energy security and environmental stewardship,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. “As the recently released Nuclear Fuel Working Group’s Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership exemplifies, we must pursue technological innovation and advanced nuclear RD&D investments to strengthen American leadership in the next generation of nuclear technologies, ensuring a healthy and growing U.S. nuclear energy sector.”READ MORE | 5/14/2020 | |  | | A first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor that will use a 3D-printed core, advanced materials, and integrated sensors and controls is on track for completion by 2023. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, work is ramping up to demonstrate the Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR), an innovative micro-reactor program spearheaded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and project partners, to include Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and industry participants. On May 11, ORNL announced the project has completed several “foundational” experiments, including selection of a core design. During a recent three-month “sprint,” it also demonstrated the “agility of the additive manufacturing technology” to quickly produce a prototype reactor core. READ MORE
| 5/13/2020 | |  | | WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy today announced $27 million in funding for 9 projects as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) Generating Electricity Managed by Intelligent Nuclear Assets (GEMINA) program. These projects will work to develop digital twin technology to reduce operations and maintenance (O&M) costs in the next generation of nuclear power plants by 10-times in order to make them more economical, flexible, and efficient. READ MORE
| 5/13/2020 | | | | A host of novel fuel and material concepts are being investigated as part of the Gen IV reactor development initiative. While many of these candidates are rooted in historical programs from previous reactor development campaigns, most of these concepts were never fully evaluated for long-term performance in non-LWR facilities. The performance data that is needed for candidate material downselection, feasibility studies, and eventual qualification is, currently, very costly in terms of monetary cost and human capital. The use of an 'all of the above' strategy for performance assessment is needed to reduce the cost of ushering materials through the qualification process. In this presentation, we will discuss the efforts that are currently underway, and those planned for the near future, to advance many of these candidates from concept to deployment. READ MORE | 5/6/2020 | | | | WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced selections to receive funding to accelerate advanced nuclear technology development. There are two selections - one to support site preparation for a future domestic advanced reactor demonstration project and one for an advanced reactor regulatory licensing grant. The projects have a total value of $5.4 million. The awards are through the Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development. This is Cycle 2020-1, which is the eighth round of funding provided through this innovative FOA. DOE announced previous funding awards in 2018 and 2019. Subsequent application reviews and selection processes will be conducted through December 2022, as supported by Congressional appropriations. “These cost-shared projects will allow the industry and government to work together to advance U.S. commercial nuclear capability,” said Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy. “Nuclear energy plays a vital role in our all-of-the-above energy strategy to meet increasing energy demand and clean energy goals.” READ MORE | 4/28/2020 | |  | | The NSUF is seeking input on needs and recommendations to assist DOE-NE in determining what capabilities supporting research are of highest interest to the nuclear energy (NE) research community over the next 1, 3, and 5 years. This is an informal request from the NSUF and is intended to supplement the official annual request for information from DOE-NE. The information provided has the potential to influence DOE-NE infrastructure investments. The input being sought includes capability descriptions, potential scientific impact, programmatic importance, anticipated utilization, and costs (capital investment, installation, and operating and maintenance [O&M]). Input is requested not only for new capabilities but also replacement or expanded capabilities. It is envisioned that selected capabilities might be considered for inclusion in the NSUF. Click on the link below to enter your input. Up to three capabilities for each 1, 3, and 5 year outlooks will be accepted. Please submit your information to NSUF by 5:00 p.m., ET, April 23, 2020. LINK TO SURVEY
| 4/7/2020 | | | | The objective of the GIF VHTR Hydrogen Production Project Management Board is to provide a
collaborative environment among the signatories for the development, optimization and
demonstration of economical large-scale hydrogen production processes that do not emit greenhouse gases through the use of nuclear energy. The main processes considered by the signatories
include Sulphur-Iodine (S-I), High Temperature Steam Electrolysis (HTSE), Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl)
and Hybrid Sulphur (HyS). The signatories include Canada, EU, France, Japan, Korea and the USA.
China has been an observer, waiting to join the group formally, but contributing strongly to the
developments. The S-I process has been demonstrated for short term operation by China, Korea
and Japan. EU, France and the USA have been very active in HTSE. Canada has been focusing on the
Cu-Cl Cycle with plans for demonstration of an integrated lab-scale system in 2021. This webinar
will provide an overview of these activities and their relevance to mitigating global warming READ MORE | 4/2/2020 | |  | | Oklo Submits the First Combined License Application for an Advanced Fission Plant - Oklo's combined license application for the Aurora powerhouse is the first to be submitted for an advanced fission plant.
- Oklo is the first to submit a combined license application using an entirely new structure to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
- The existing application and regulatory structures are based on historical nuclear reactor designs, and Oklo's modernized application is an important step towards commercializing advanced technologies in the U.S.
- Oklo's license application is also the first privately funded combined license application, and the first to be submitted online.
READ MORE
| 3/17/2020 | |  | | Although researchers at national laboratories have traditionally thought in terms of getting "awards" to fund their projects, a U.S. Department of Energy program is taking a new approach to keeping the nuclear energy research and development fires stoked. Since 2016, the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) has been providing vouchers to help companies engaged in nuclear research, streamlining commercialization efforts by offering the resources of DOE's national labs for much less than what they would typically cost. "In an ideal case, a young startup company has run into an issue that it doesn't have the resources to solve," said John Jackson, GAIN's technical interface. "We view ourselves as a high-end technical service to benefit the United States." Of the 49 vouchers that have been issued since 2016, work has been done for small companies such as Oklo, of Sunnyvale, California, and Creare, of Hanover, New Hampshire. Yet giants such as Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi have also benefited from GAIN vouchers. READ MORE
| 3/17/2020 | | | | | 3/12/2020 | | | | Micro-reactors are very small nuclear reactors capable of operating independently from the electric grid to supply highly resilient power, and are well suited to serve the power needs for remote communities that currently do not have access to reliable, resilient and affordable energy. A typical commercial microreactor is envisioned to be a mobile nuclear power plant in a 2-20 MWe range that is fully factory built, fueled and assembled. It is transportable to the remote site via ground, sea or air with black start, renewable integration and island mode operation capability. They are designed to be self-regulating and walk-away safe with minimal operator intervention. NEI estimates that Microreactors could deliver electricity at rates between $0.09/kWh and $0.33/kWh. This presentation will describe 'genericized' microreactor designs being pursued by various vendors, technology gaps and the role of DOE's Microreactor R&D. READ MORE
Register NOW
| 3/3/2020 | | | | The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is authorized by the FY2020 Congressional appropriations to initiate an advanced reactor demonstration program. DOE has issued a Request for Information/Notice of Intent (RFI/NOI) on the government-wide point of entry (beta.SAM.gov) as part of its market research for this program. The RFI/NOI notifies interested parties of DOE’s intended strategies to implement this program, as well as solicits input regarding these strategies from interested parties, including advanced reactor developers. The RFI/NOI gives interested parties the opportunity to provide DOE with their insights on how the demonstration program could be successfully executed. DOE intends to use the information submitted in response to the RFI/NOI to inform its procurement approach. Please see the RFI/NOI by clicking HERE.
| 2/6/2020 | |  | | To maintain U.S. global advanced nuclear leadership, it is important to have a versatile, high-energy neutron source. The U.S. Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) can provide that capability to accelerate research and test nuclear materials, fuel, and other components. The VTR can assist in developing innovative nuclear energy technologies that have inherent safety features, lower waste yields, the capability to consume waste materials, the ability to support both electric and non-electric applications, and other improvements over the current generation of reactors. Furthermore, the success of the VTR will advance the U.S. industry by not having domestic nuclear developers relying upon Russian or Chinese test facilities and allowing the U.S. to be a competitive international resource for irradiation and testing services. In addition, constructing the VTR will enable the U.S. government to demonstrate advanced reactor technologies. READ MORE | 1/24/2020 |
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