Nuclear GAIN: DOE backs carbon-free energy goal

January 19, 2016 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

In support of the Administration's goal to produce more carbon-free energy, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected two companies in which it will invest money to further develop advanced nuclear reactor designs.

Credit: digitalart/freedigitalphotos.net

X-energy and Southern Company will receive a multi-year cost share to support work to address key technical challenges to the design, construction, and operation of next generation nuclear reactors.

Nuclear power provides almost 20 percent of the electricity generated in the United States today, and more than 60 percent of the nation's carbon free electricity.

"In order to ensure that nuclear energy remains a key source for U.S. electricity generation well into the future, it is critically important that we invest in these technologies today," said Secretary Moniz. "Public-private partnerships to develop advanced nuclear capabilities will enable low-carbon nuclear energy to power America for years to come."

These awards provide an example of the public-private partnerships envisioned under the recently launched Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative. Announced at the White House last fall, GAIN provides the nuclear energy community with access to the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear energy systems.

Following a competitive process, DOE will fund cost-shared research and development activities with industry to support X-energy and Southern Company with performance-based advanced reactor concepts for further development in the areas of safety, operations, and economics. Initially, DOE's investment will be $6 million for each project and both companies will provide cost share with a potential multi-year cost-share value of up to $80 million.

X-energy is partnering with BWX Technology, Oregon State University, Teledyne-Brown Engineering, SGL Group, Idaho National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to solve design and fuel development challenges of the Xe-100 Pebble Bed Advanced Reactor. This reactor has next generation design and the most advanced safety features, and is also smaller than traditional nuclear reactors. These factors would potentially enable such a reactor to serve a wider array of communities --particularly densely populated areas -- while ensuring public safety.

Southern Company Services is partnering with TerraPower, Electric Power Research Institute, Vanderbilt University, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to perform integrated effects tests and materials suitability studies to support development of the Molten Chloride Fast Reactor -- also a next generation design with the most advanced safety features that enable its potential use across the country.

For more:
- visit this website

http://www.smartgridnews.com/story/nuclear-gain-doe-backs-carbon-free-energy-goal/2016-01-19