Awards help to accelerate the innovation and advancement of microreactor technologies, identification of potential sites capable of hosting a nuclear-powered data center, and research to prevent corrosion in molten salt reactors.
September 24, 2024
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) announced today that four companies will be provided vouchers to advance microreactor technologies, identify potential sites capable of hosting a nuclear-powered data center, and prevent corrosion in molten salt reactors. The vouchers provide companies access to the extensive nuclear research capabilities and expertise available across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory complex.
Antares Nuclear, Inc. (Redondo Beach, CA) will work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to perform an independent, technical audit of the company’s heat-pipe cooled microreactor, Antares R1, to verify core neutronics and thermal hydraulics.
Advanced Nuclear Advisors LLC (Ooltewah, TN) will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to identify potential sites in the United States that could host advanced nuclear capacity and data centers. This is a first step to identify sites that the company could move forward with in future licensing efforts.
Nano Nuclear Energy, Inc. (New York, NY) will collaborate with Idaho National Laboratory to evaluate the novel heat exchanger design of Zeus, a modular microreactor, through computational modeling and sensitivity analysis.
MilliporeSigma for Sigma-Aldrich Inc. (St. Louis, MO) will work with Idaho National Laboratory to align best practices and begin to standardize test methods for detecting oxide impurities in salts to prevent corrosion issues in molten salt nuclear reactors and other high-temperature industrial applications.
GAIN voucher recipients do not receive direct financial awards. Vouchers provide funding to DOE laboratories to help businesses overcome critical technological and commercialization challenges. All awardees are responsible for a minimum 20 percent cost share, which could be an in-kind contribution.
GAIN was established by DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy and provides the nuclear community with the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move innovative nuclear technologies toward commercialization while ensuring the continued, safe, and economic operation of the existing fleet.
This is the fourth and final round of GAIN vouchers awarded for FY 2024.
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