The Energy Department announced Tuesday it is providing $160 million to two U.S. companies building smaller advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational this decade. “The awards are the first step of a new program that will strengthen American leadership in the next generation of nuclear technologies,” said Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette. The DOE is awarding an initial round of funding through its first-of-a-kind Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program to TerraPower and GE Hitachi for its Natrium project, along with X-energy. Each recipient will receive $80 million as part of cost-share agreements between the government and industry that aim for the companies to build two reactors that can be operational within seven years. Congress appropriated $160 million for the fiscal year 2020 budget as initial funding for the program. The DOE plans to invest a total of $3.2 billion over seven years for demonstration projects, subject to the availability of future appropriations.
Washington Examiner 13th Oct 2020 read more »