Background
Nuclear power is one of the few energy sources able to produce the large amounts of energy necessary to reliably meet our nation’s growing energy needs. Designed with a variety of capabilities, sizes, and deployment scenarios in mind, small modular reactors (SMRs) can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination, and more. SMRs offer the potential for greater modularity, more factory-style construction, and the ability to be matched with loads and scaled to meet demand. Additionally, Gen III+ SMRs may be able to revitalize and leverage the expertise, workforce, and supply chains supporting the existing fleet of large light-water reactor designs, thus providing a near-term path for new nuclear deployments and operation.
Program Overview
The Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor (Gen III+ SMR) Program helps to speed the demonstration of Gen III+ nuclear reactor technologies, which bridge the gap between our current fleet of reactors and a more advanced reactor design that will be demonstrated in the Advanced Reactor Demonstrations Program. The goal of the Gen III+ SMR program is to fund projects that will build and deploy these new nuclear reactors and to address the gaps that hinder our domestic nuclear industry.
Current Funding Opportunities
In October 2024, OCED and the Office of Nuclear Energy opened applications for up to $900 million in funding to support the initial U.S. deployments of Gen III+ SMR technologies in two tiers of funding.
- Tier 1: First Mover Team Support, managed by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), will provide up to $800M to support up to two first-mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, and end-users or power off-takers committed to deploying a first plant while at the same time facilitating a multi-reactor, Gen III+ SMR orderbook and the opportunity to work with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to incorporate safeguards and security by design into the projects.
- Tier 2: Fast Follower Deployment Support, managed by the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), will provide up to $100M to spur additional Gen III+ SMR deployments by addressing key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in areas such as design, licensing, supplier development, and site preparation.
Applications closed on January 17, 2025. Learn more here.
Announcements
- Read the press release announcing the solicitation, published October 2024.
- Download the solicitation, issued October 2024.
- View the funding webpage, published October 2024.
- Read the Notice of Intent, issued June 2024.
Resources
- Read the latest updates on the Gen III+ SMR Program.
- View agendas, presentations and other materials from the Gen III+ Industry Day here.
- Watch the Gen III+ SMR Program Notice of Intent Informational Webinar recording here and view slides here.
- Read the Advanced Nuclear Liftoff Report.
- For media inquiries, contact [email protected].
