In 1951, four small lightbulbs flickered to life in the Idaho desert and changed the world forever. Now, after five decades, Idaho National Laboratory is leading the most ambitious nuclear energy push since Apollo 11. Meet the scientists, engineers, and companies building the reactors that will power America’s future.
Aalo will work with INL to expand EMRALD’s modeling and simulation capabilities so Aalo can optimize reactor design, economics, and operational reliability. INL developed the EMRALD dynamic risk assessment software and has extensive expertise in advanced reactor modeling, reliability analysis, and microreactor development.
Raven-Flint will work with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop an integrated mass-balance, MC&A, and supporting stream-characterization for the Raven-Flint pilot plant. This will utilize INLs operating-scale UF₆ conversion expertise and advanced radiochemistry and analytical capabilities. INL’s combination of subject-matter expertise, radiological authority, and analytical instrumentation enables the development of NRC-credible MC&A and stream-characterization methodologies essential for commercial licensing.
The A/SMR 2026 summit is shaping up to be a premier event, featuring high-level keynote speakers, engaging panel discussions and timely topical breakout sessions focused on the secure deployment of advanced and small modular reactors by embedding cybersecurity and resilience into reactor design, validation, licensing, supply chain and workforce education.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed state-of-the-art modeling and simulation tools for advanced TRISO particle-based fuels using BISON code. AT will partner with INL to extend the BISON fuel-performance code so it can practically model 3D TRISO particle distributions in UCO TRISO compacts, capturing particle–particle and particle–matrix interactions needed for supporting commercial operations of BWXT’s TRISO fuel for the nuclear industry.
CSU will partner with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for techno-economic analysis with decision modeling and with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the water availability and optimal usage analyses. The study will also assess the feasibility and application of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the CSU service territory.
Industry toured Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to understand ongoing nuclear research and capabilities at the laboratory. Industry met with INL technical points of contact to discuss capabilities and identify potential future collaboration opportunities.
“It’s GAIN’s job to help answer questions by providing unbiased, factual information to communities,” said Christine King, GAIN director. “Nuclear energy may not be the answer in all instances, but we can pull expertise from around the nation’s national labs to serve as a trusted resource.”
The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy announced on June 5 that it has awarded vouchers to three nuclear companies from its Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program to research nuclear fuel and materials.
A study by the U.S. Department of Energy involving national laboratories identified 157 retired coal plant sites and 237 operating coal plants sites as potential candidates for the coal-to-nuclear transition.
Christine King, the Department of Energy’s director of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear previously told the Deseret News the research showed that the most valuable connection in the site analysis was connection to the grid, the transmission, existing substations and even the administration buildings.