THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Public Affairs
Department of Energy Announces $39 Million to Strengthen University-Led Nuclear Energy Research and Development
51 Projects Aim to Cut Carbon Pollution, Create Clean Energy Jobs and Strengthen America�s Nuclear Energy Industry
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Assistant Secretary
for Nuclear Energy
Dr. Peter Lyons |
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Washington, D.C. � The Department of Energy today announced that it
has awarded up to $39 million in research grants aimed at developing
cutting-edge nuclear energy technologies and training and educating the
next generation of leaders in the U.S. nuclear industry. Speaking at the
U.S. Department of Energy�s annual Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP)
workshop in Chicago, Assistant Secretary Peter Lyons said the grants
would support up to 51 projects at colleges and universities around the
country.
Through NEUP, the Department is working to leverage the research and
development capabilities of American universities and colleges to
enhance U.S. leadership in the global nuclear energy industry. NEUP
builds upon the Obama Administration�s efforts to ensure that nuclear
power is a part of our clean energy mix. Through programs like NEUP, the
Department is taking action to restart the nuclear industry as part of a
broad approach to create new clean energy jobs and cut carbon pollution.
�The Obama Administration continues to believe that nuclear energy
has an important role to play as America moves to a clean energy
future,� said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. �As part of our commitment
to restarting the American nuclear industry and creating thousands of
new jobs and export opportunities in the process, we are investing in
cutting-edge nuclear energy research projects that can develop the
technologies required to advance our domestic nuclear industry and
maintain global leadership in the field.�
The 51 awards announced today are led by 31 U.S. universities in more
than 20 states. Other universities, industry leaders, and national
laboratories will serve as collaborators and research partners. The
projects selected for negotiation of award cover four nuclear energy
research fields including Fuel Cycle Research and Development; Reactor
Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration; Nuclear Energy
Advanced Modeling and Simulation; and Transformative Research.
Fuel Cycle Research and Development � $12.4 million
Under this program researchers will develop and demonstrate methods to
recycle used fuel to enable the safe, secure and sustainable expansion
of nuclear energy, while minimizing proliferation and terrorism risks.
Research conducted through this program is focused on developing options
that use resources efficiently, reduce waste generation and enable
effective waste management. One of the projects being funded is:
Clemson University (Clemson, SC) � Researchers will study
the interaction of used fuel with storage containers under extreme
conditions to help ensure public and environmental safety during the
treatment and disposal of radioactive waste. DOE award: $1,000,000
Reactor Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration � $11.9
million
This program aims to develop new and advanced reactor designs and
technologies that broaden the applicability of nuclear reactors while
addressing the technical, cost, safety and security issues associated
with different reactor concepts. One of the projects being funded is:
Utah State University (Logan, UT) � Researchers will model
heat transfer through fluid flows within a nuclear reactor,
improving reactor safety and design. The resulting data will be made
available in a consolidated database for nuclear energy industry
experts and researchers, supporting a wide range of related studies
and reducing future testing costs. DOE award: $635,860
Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation � $4.9 million
Under this program researchers aim to develop cross-cutting tools used
to efficiently design and engineer next generation nuclear energy
technologies. Advanced modeling and simulation tools help improve the
safety and efficiency of reactor operations while reducing the costs
associated with building prototypes and running large-scale experiments.
One of the projects being funded is:
Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) � Researchers
will help develop future sustainable nuclear fuel cycles using model
simulations of fuel behavior and performance in reactors. The
research will provide a cost effective means to accelerate the
development of these new cycles and improve fuel performance. DOE
award: $1,098,250
Transformative Research � $9.8 million
This research focuses on innovative nuclear science and engineering
projects that encourage the development of game-changing nuclear energy
technologies, including advanced reactor and fuel cycle concepts. One of
the projects being funded is:
Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA) -
Researchers will support the development of a sensory system for
gauging the effects of aging on advanced nuclear plant components.
It will also improve physical measurement accuracy and reduce
uncertainty in component life expectancy. DOE award: $455,628
For the full list of projects selected for award and for additional
information about NEUP visit the
Nuclear Energy University Programs website.
August 9, 2011
Media Contact: (202) 586-4940
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