PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Continued use of nuclear power is an important part of the Department’s strategy to provide for the Nation’s energy security, as well as to be responsible stewards of the environment.  Nuclear energy currently provides over 20 percent of the U.S. electricity generation and will continue to provide a significant portion of U.S. electrical energy production for many years to come.  Also, nuclear power in the U.S. makes a significant contribution to lowering the emission of gases associated with global climate change and air pollution.  New nuclear plants will be needed to meet increasing electricity demand without greenhouse gas emissions, and to provide high temperature process heat for hydrogen production. 

The Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) enables the Department of Energy to provide the technical leadership necessary to address critical domestic and international nuclear issues by administering research and development and technical assistance in the following general areas:  (1) the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative seeks to develop and demonstrate one or more Generation IV nuclear energy systems that offer advantages in the areas of economics, safety and reliability, sustainability, and could be deployed commercially by 2030; (2) the University Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Program addresses key issues affecting the future of nuclear energy in order to preserve U.S. nuclear science and technology leadership; (3) the Nuclear Power 2010 (NP2010) Program conducts research to assure the continued safe and reliable operations of over 100 of the Nation’s nuclear power plants, and for the construction of new plants; (4) the University Reactor Fuel and Educational Assistance Program is designed to help retain the U.S. nuclear engineering capability for conducting nuclear research, addressing pressing nuclear environmental challenges, and preserving the nuclear energy option; (5) the Isotope Production Program produces and sells hundreds of stable and radioactive isotopes that are widely used by domestic and international customers for medicine, industry and research applications; and (6) the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership's (GNEP)Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) supports the growth of nuclear energy by developing and demonstrating technologies that enable transition to a stable, long-term, environmentally, economically and politically acceptable advanced fuel cycle, that will also reduce nuclear proliferation.

For additional information regarding the Office of Nuclear Energy priorities, click here.

TOPIC:

24. Advanced Technologies for Nuclear Energy

      a.   New Technology for Improved Nuclear Energy Systems

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