Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced more than $59 million to 25 U.S. colleges and universities, two national laboratories, and one industry organization to support nuclear energy research and development and provide access to world-class research facilities. With these awards, DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy has surpassed $1 billion in total funding to U.S. colleges and universities advancing nuclear energy research and training the next generation of nuclear energy leaders.
Since 2009, this historic funding initiative has supported some of the most influential nuclear technology research of the 21st century, including advanced reactor concepts, accident tolerant fuels, and structural materials of nuclear reactors. These awards are a crucial investment in future scientists and engineers who are working to advance nuclear technology to help reach President Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Eclipsing one-billion-dollars represents an incredible investment in our nation’s colleges and universities, as well as the faculty and students performing nuclear energy research,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff. “We’re going to need a thriving workforce to triple nuclear energy by 2050 and meet the President’s ambitious climate goals. These awards move us one step closer to realizing a clean energy future.”
In the most recent round of awards, 50 total projects were supported in the following areas:
- Consolidated Innovative Nuclear Research (CINR) Research and Development ($44 million): Supports 44 awards and brings collaborative teams together to solve complex problems to advance nuclear science and technology.
- CINR Integrated Research Projects ($9 million): Funds three multidisciplinary teams to address specific research challenges and capability gaps in nuclear energy.
- Nuclear Science User Facilities ($6.6 million): Provides three research teams (1 industry organization and 2 national laboratories) access to world-class facilities and unique capabilities to help maintain the existing fleet of reactors and advance next generation nuclear technologies. Additionally, four of the CINR Research and Development university awardees will also receive Nuclear Science User Facility access funds.
To learn more about these awards, visit Nuclear Energy University Program website.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy