The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) has been awarded a $5.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop innovative reactor fuel technology. The project aims to transform long-lived nuclear waste into a valuable energy resource while advancing the future of nuclear power.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly announced the award on Thursday, Oct. 29, during a visit to the Texas A&M campus. The initiative, titled "Turning Nuclear Waste into Fuel with a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor," is led by Dr. Lin Shao, a professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University.
The project brings together researchers from TEES, Savannah River National Laboratory, and industry partner Natura Resources. The team will address the management of used nuclear fuel and its long-lived radioactive components, a significant challenge for the nuclear energy sector.
Danly stated that the project demonstrates how the nation can address long-term nuclear waste challenges while advancing technologies that strengthen energy security. "America’s energy future depends on bold innovation and strong partnerships between the federal government, national laboratories, universities and industry," Danly said.
"The Department of Energy is proud to support research that has the potential to unlock new value from existing nuclear materials and accelerate the deployment of advanced reactor systems."
