WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking expressions of interest from prospective industry teams interested in participating in the development and conceptual design for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), a very high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor prototype with the capability to produce process heat, electricity and/or hydrogen.  The very high temperature reactor is based on research and development activities supported by DOE’s Generation IV nuclear energy systems initiative. 

“Proceeding with a request for expressions of interest is an important first step in bringing industry into the development of the NGNP,” DOE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dennis Spurgeon said.  “My objective would be to establish a public-private partnership to complete the development of the technology and to do so early, allowing the technology to be available for commercial scale deployment on a timeframe consistent with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”

Expressions of interest are due to the Idaho National Laboratory by July 14, 2006, and will be used to identify potential candidates to receive formal Requests for Proposal later this year for the project’s pre-conceptual design work.  The pre-conceptual design of NGNP, which is consistent with the Phase I activities under EPACT 2005, would be directed at focusing the technical scope and priorities of research and development activities for the NGNP and on providing the basis for subsequent development of technical and functional specifications for the prototype plant.  Consistent with EPACT, the Department would complete the design and construction of a prototype plant at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory, the Department’s lead laboratory for development of the NGNP, by 2021. 

The request for expressions of interest and information concerning how to respond may be found at http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/ posted under the heading, Idaho National Laboratory.  This request is not a formal solicitation requesting proposals and does not represent a commitment by the Idaho National Laboratory to award a contract.  Additional information concerning DOE’s nuclear energy programs may be found on www.nuclear.gov.    

Media contact(s):
Craig Stevens, (202) 586-5806