"...we must face the central fact that nuclear power is the only mature technology able today to supply sufficiently large amounts of emissions-free base load power to the world to meet the projected growth in demand for electricity." Samuel W. Bodman, U.S. Secretary of Energy.
We support the safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable use of nuclear power worldwide through our strengths in repository science, nonproliferation, safety and security, transportation, modeling, and system demonstrations.
Goals
- Apply repository science, nonproliferation, safety, security, and transportation to advance a closed nuclear fuel cycle.
- Enable advancements in nuclear fuel cycle development through modeling and system demonstrations.
- Partner with key industrial and policy organizations in the US and abroad to build complementary teams.
- Develop a few integrated technology demonstration projects that address policy, social and technology needs.
Addressing Nuclear Energy Concerns
To achieve the goal of a safe secure and proliferation resistance fuel cycle, we must address a number of nuclear energy concerns.
Wendell Weart examines a chunk of salt at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
- Public will demand much higher levels of safety than ever before.
- Nuclear fuel cycle is an attractive target for terrorism.
- Nuclear fuel cycle can be a path to nuclear weapons.
- Fear of nuclear materials transportation is increasing.
- Volume of nuclear waste already exceeds repository capacity.
- U.S. has lost many of its nuclear test and fabrication facilities.
- International demand for nuclear energy is growing dramatically.
Strategy
Sandia specialists are determining how Yucca Mountain's native volcanic rock responds, mechanically and thermally, to the heat and pressure expected during millennia of repository storage.
National Technical and Policy Leadership
Help define and implement U.S. nuclear fuel cycle policy through our recognized leadership in repository science, nonproliferation, safety, security, reliability, and transportation.
Key System Demonstrations
The Nuclear Energy Line of Business at Sandia develops and leads "flagship" projects, which use Sandia's unique strengths in systems engineering to enable the U.S. Nuclear Enterprise, address policy, social, and technical issues.
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Science Solutions
Sandia is developing, testing, and qualifying new materials and electronics for the extreme radiation and thermal environments of next-generation nuclear reactors.
Partner with key industrial and scientific organizations in the U.S. and abroad to build complementary teams, leveraging Sandia's science and simulation capabilities.
Points of Contact:
Andrew Orrell,
Director
Nuclear Energy
(702) 295-5549
Tracy Dunham,
Line of Business Administrator
Nuclear Energy
(505) 845-9776
