Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
The Integrated Risk-Informed Condition Based Maintenance Capability and Automated Platform will be carried out by a team comprised of Public Services Enterprise & Group (PSE&G) Nuclear, LLC, Idaho National Laboratory, and Rolls-Royce North America of Moon Township, PA. They are working on an automated platform for pilot implementation of a fully integrated risk-informed condition-based maintenance capability. It is hoped that this project will result in significantly reduced O&M costs associated with time-based maintenance for the U.S. nuclear fleet.
The Regulatory Assistance Grants pathway will provide support for resolving design regulatory issues, regulatory reviews of licensing topical reports or papers and other efforts focused on acquiring certification and licensing approvals for advanced reactor designs and capabilities.
The TEUSA-USNRC Pre-Licensing Activities for the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR®) of Terrestrial Energy USA in New York, NY will be funded under this pathway. This project will conduct pre-application interactions with the U.S. NRC to assist in the licensing of the IMSR®.
Also included in announcement from the DoE were vouchers from the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative. These vouchers provide funds to assist applicants in seeking access to the world class expertise and capabilities available across the U.S. DoE complex. The Gain program was created to help the nuclear industrial community gain the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move new or advanced nuclear technologies toward commercialization while still ensuring the safe, reliable and economical operation of the existing nuclear power plants in the U.S. The ultimate goal of the GAIN initiative is to accelerate the commercialization of innovative nuclear energy technologies.
The Integrated Nuclear Hybrid Energy System project of Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport, TN will receive GAIN vouchers. Eastman will partner with the Idaho National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the project. This project will focus on upgrading the Eastman Kingsport plant to allow the production of both electricity and industrial heat.
The Assessing Fuel Cycle Options for Elysium Molten Chloride Salt Fast Reactor from Spent Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium, and Depleted Uranium project of Elysium Industries in Clifton Park, NY will receive GAIN vouchers. The project is dedicated to research on innovative concepts for closing the nuclear fuel cycle and eliminating light water reactor waste.
The Plasma Separation Process Feasibility Study for the Commercial Enrichment of Gadolinium-157 project of Exelon Generation in Kennett Square, PA. will receive GAIN vouchers. They will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the project. This project will focus on the use of enriched gadolinium fuel designs to reduce total fuel cycle and operational costs for the U.S. fleet of nuclear reactors.
The Nuclear Cybersecurity Initiative of NexDefense in Atlanta, GA. will receive GAIN vouchers. They will work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the project. NexDefense has software that will allow industrial companies to monitor their plant networks for malicious cyber activities. This is accomplished by providing the companies with compete visibility into their networks to protect their plants from cybersecurity attacks.
Development and Testing of Alumina-forming Austenitic Stainless Steels for Lead Fast Reactor Application project of Westinghouse Electric Co. in Cranberry Township, PA. will receive GAIN vouchers. They will work with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the project. They are developing an alumina-forming austenitic steel alloy which will solve a serious technical problem with corrosion in the creation of a lead fast reactor.