The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) has awarded vouchers to two companies to accelerate development of advanced nuclear technologies and molten salt fuel. The vouchers give companies access to the nuclear research capabilities and expertise available at DOE’s national laboratory complex.
Entergy Operations will work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to implement a real-time predictive model that could reduce manual rounds and resource intensive monitoring efforts which are currently employed at NPPs. Its new data-driven approach is anticipated to lower operational costs while mitigating equipment failures and ensuring the predictability of nuclear plant operations.
Terrestrial Energy USA will partner with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to analyse the fuel salt used in the company’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor design to better understand how it changes in response to temperature during normal operation and accident scenarios.
This is the third round of GAIN vouchers awarded for FY 2024. Voucher recipients do not receive direct financial awards but provide funding to DOE laboratories to help businesses overcome critical technological and commercialisation challenges. All awardees are responsible for a minimum 20% cost share, which could be an in-kind contribution.
GAIN was established by DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy and provides the nuclear community with the technical, regulatory, and financial support to help to commercialise innovative nuclear technologies while ensuring the continued, safe, and economic operation of the existing fleet.
