DOE Awards $30.7M in Nuclear Research Grants

September 10, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected 11 U.S. university-led grant recipient teams for cooperative research projects under the DOE Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) for up to $30.7 million over three years (fiscal years 2007-2009).

NERI is a DOE initiative focused on developing advanced nuclear energy systems and providing research concerning nuclear science and technology.

These grants are designed to engage U.S. university professors and their students in advanced nuclear fuel cycle research and development (R&D).

Selected projects include 38 U.S. universities in 22 states.

Funding for these projects is expected to begin this fiscal year ($10.3 million) and continue through fiscal year 2009 subject to negotiations and appropriations from Congress, said the DOE.

These grants are expected to be executed by the end of this fiscal year. In total this fiscal year, the department will provide approximately $55 million to U.S. universities in support of nuclear energy programs and R&D.

This includes the fiscal year 2007-portion of $10.3 million; $3.8 million in Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) readiness awards announced in August; $13 million to fund individual researcher awards through NERI; $16.5 million for programs conducted under the University Reactor Infrastructure and Education Assistance Program; and $11.5 million for university R&D.

The GNEP seeks to close the nuclear fuel cycle by reducing proliferation risks, reducing waste and increasing energy security around the world, said the DOE.

In support of the GNEP, the research grants also further the DOE Generation IV Nuclear Energy Initiative, the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative and the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI).

The Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative aims to further advance nuclear energy system designs and broaden the opportunities for the use of nuclear power. The Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative seeks to demonstrate the economic, commercial-scale production of hydrogen using nuclear energy.

If successful, this research is touted as leading to a large-scale, emission-free, domestic hydrogen production capability to fuel a hydrogen economy, said the DOE. AFCI goals include reducing the long-term radiological impact of waste; enabling development of a simpler, cheaper repository; reducing proliferation risk and improving long-term prospects for nuclear power.

A list of university-led grant recipient teams can be found at http://www.energy.gov/news/5348.htm.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).