FY-2024 3rd Round Proposals Due
Proposals for the FY-2024 3rd Round GAIN Nuclear Energy (NE) Vouchers are due by 5:00pm EST on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
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Regulatory Update: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission endorses guidance for advanced reactor licensing – Advanced Reactor Content of Application Project (ARCAP)
March 24, 2024 – The NRC issued new guidance documents to facilitate the licensing process for non-light water reactor designs. This ARCAP guidance was developed to support near-term advanced reactor applicants under 10 CFR Part 50 and Part 52, and also support the 10 CFR Part 53 rulemaking effort. It reflects a technology-inclusive, risk-informed and performance-based structure for NRC license applications. The ARCAP encompassed the industry-led Technology-Inclusive Content of Application Project (TI-CAP) and is built on the outcome of the Licensing Modernization Project.
GAIN announces second round FY 2024 Nuclear Energy Voucher recipient
The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that three companies will be provided a GAIN Nuclear Energy (NE) Voucher 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 second award for FY 2024.
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Test Vehicle Development to Support Oklo’s Advanced Fuels Roadmap
Oklo, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA) will partner with Idaho National Laboratory to complete pre-conceptual design work of an experimental test device that will be used in its first Aurora fast reactor to support irradiation testing of advanced fuels and materials.
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Investigation of Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) Process Development for Graphite Neutron Moderator Production
Element Factory, LLC (Cheyenne, WY) will work with Idaho National Laboratory to ensure that graphite components will meet technical and regulatory requirements for use in nuclear reactors when they are produced through their novel process that uses different carbon sources.
Thermal Energy Storage with sCO2 Power Conversion for Low-Cost Micro Modular Reactors – Heat Transfer and sCO2 Power Cycle Assessment
Kanata America, Inc. (Cheyenne, WY) will collaborate with Sandia National Laboratories to improve the efficiency of their thermal energy storage and power conversion systems for future use in microreactors.
Regulatory Update: NRC Expands its International Memorandum of Cooperation to Include UK Regulator
March 12, 2024 – The NRC expanded its previous international cooperation agreement with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to now also include the United Kingdom Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR). This Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) is intended to result in increased collaboration on the technical reviews of advanced reactor and small modular reactor technologies. Under the terms of this MOC, CNSC, ONR, and U.S. NRC may take each others’ experiences, regulatory information and results into account when conducting technology assessments for the purposes of feedback to vendors or making recommendations for regulatory decisions.
Regulatory Update: Commission Provides Direction to NRC Staff Regarding Part 53 Rulemaking
March 4, 2024 – In response to prior Commission direction, the NRC staff developed draft proposed rule 10 CFR Part 53, “Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Commercial Nuclear Plants,” (Part 53). The draft proposed rule offers a voluntary, performance-based alternative regulatory framework for licensing future commercial nuclear plants.
Regulatory Update: Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Updates Regulatory Priorities for New and Advanced Reactors
February 12, 2024 – NEI submitted a letter to the NRC providing an update to industry’s regulatory priorities that are intended to lead to a more modern and efficient regulatory framework for new and advanced reactors.
Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) Irradiation Testing
Westinghouse will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to perform an irradiation test and associated Post-Irradiation Examination (PIE) on a specific CMC to ensure it is a viable option for the eVinci microreactor prior to performing a larger irradiation campaign. The work will utilize the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at ORNL.
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