The Energy Department has provided up to $64 million in grants to industry, universities and the department’s national laboratories for advanced nuclear energy technology research and development projects.The DOE said Monday its Office of Nuclear Energy will fund a total of 89 projects for nuclear energy systems, facility access and infrastructure development, which include programs from 39 universities across 29 states.
Ed McGinnis, principal deputy assistant secretary for nuclear energy, said the investment will help researchers develop advanced nuclear technologies for future generations of Americans.
The department will provide $47 million for 63 civil nuclear energy studies and $5 million for 18 infrastructure enhancement projects for university research reactors under the Nuclear Energy University Program.
The Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies program will provide $5 million for five projects developing next-generation sensors, instrumentation, materials and manufacturing approaches for nuclear reactor plants and fuels.
Under the Nuclear Science User Facilities program, an industry initiative and two university-led projects will receive a total of $6.6 million for research and technical assistance on experimental neutron and ion irradiation tests, post-irradiation examination facilities and synchrotron beamline services.
