The Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) primary mission is to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of making major contributions in meeting our Nation’s energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs. We seek to resolve technical, cost, safety, security and regulatory issues through research, development and demonstration. By focusing on the development of advanced nuclear technologies, NE supports the Administration’s goals of providing domestic sources of secure energy, reducing greenhouse gases, and enhancing national security.
NE’s program is guided by the four research objectives detailed in its Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap:
- Develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors.
- Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the Administration’s energy security and climate change goals.
- Develop sustainable fuel cycles.
- Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
NE serves present and future U.S. energy needs by developing critical technologies for the future and helping to train tomorrow’s workforce. The benefits of nuclear power as a safe, carbon-free, reliable and secure source of energy make it an essential element in our Nation’s energy and environmental future.