{"id":52072,"date":"2024-10-21T09:33:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T08:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=52072"},"modified":"2024-10-21T09:33:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T08:33:14","slug":"us-boosts-haleu-nuclear-fuel-production-to-support-advanced-reactors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/us-boosts-haleu-nuclear-fuel-production-to-support-advanced-reactors\/52072\/","title":{"rendered":"US boosts HALEU nuclear fuel production to support advanced reactors"},"content":{"rendered":"
This investment is significant, as HALEU nuclear fuel is crucial for advancing nuclear technology and securing the country’s clean energy future.<\/p>\n
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm explained: \u201cThis announcement represents the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s latest efforts to build a secure domestic HALEU supply chain, which is essential to bringing advanced nuclear reactors online and meeting the growing demand for clean, reliable electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under these new contracts, four companies \u2013 Louisiana Energy Services, Orano Federal Services, General Matter, and American Centrifuge Operating \u2013 will provide enrichment services to produce and store HALEU.<\/p>\n
This type of uranium, enriched between 5% and 20%, contains more fissile material than lower-enriched forms, allowing advanced nuclear reactors to operate more efficiently.<\/p>\n
These reactors are expected to offer smaller designs, longer operating cycles, and increased efficiency<\/a> compared to current technologies.<\/p>\n The DOE’s effort to boost HALEU nuclear fuel production is supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocates up to $2.7bn over the next decade for these services, creating competition among providers. Each selected company is guaranteed a minimum contract of $2m.<\/p>\n HALEU is a critical component for the next generation of nuclear reactors, such as TerraPower\u2019s Natrium reactor and X-energy\u2019s Xe-100.<\/a><\/p>\n These advanced reactors play a vital role in meeting the United States’ ambitious goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and ensuring a clean energy future.<\/p>\n However, the US currently lacks sufficient HALEU production capabilities, limiting the deployment of these cutting-edge technologies.<\/p>\n The newly awarded contracts aim to build a reliable domestic HALEU nuclear fuel supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign nations.<\/p>\n This development also creates new high-paying jobs and strengthens America\u2019s nuclear energy leadership.<\/p>\nSupporting advanced reactor deployment<\/h3>\n