Advanced Reactor Concepts Program
Stored: Advanced Reactor Concepts Program
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Nuclear Energy |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | Energy Policy Act of 2005 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Advanced Reactor Concepts Program supports early-stage research for innovative nuclear reactor designs using advanced coolants. It aims to enhance safety, economics, and environmental benefits through cooperative agreements with industry and academia. |
| Program Start | 2006 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Advanced Reactor Concepts Program (ARC) is a Department of Energy initiative under the Office of Nuclear Energy that fosters research into next-generation nuclear reactor technologies across the United States, supporting over 20 projects with cooperative agreements to develop designs like liquid metal and fluoride salt-cooled reactors, advancing nuclear innovation as of 2025. Launched in 2006 following Congressional authorization, it has invested over $56 million by 2020 in concepts such as X-energy’s Xe-100 high-temperature gas reactor, paving the way for demonstrations under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), with 2025 efforts refining supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles and supporting post-Hurricane Helene energy resilience through modular reactor research.
Goals
- Advance innovative reactor designs with enhanced safety and economics.[1]
- Support R&D for liquid metal, fluoride salt, and gas-cooled reactor subsystems.
- Reduce technical barriers to commercialize advanced nuclear technologies.
Organization
The Advanced Reactor Concepts Program was sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) within the Department of Energy, headquartered in Washington, D.C.[2] Funding came from Congressional appropriations, supporting a network of DOE national labs (e.g., ORNL, INL), U.S. universities, and industry partners like X-energy and General Atomics across multiple states, managed by NE’s Advanced Reactor Technologies (ART) office with oversight from a Technical Review Panel (TRP).
The leader at the Department of Energy level was the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, currently Katy Huff (as of February 22, 2025), with ARC coordinated by ART program managers.
History
The Advanced Reactor Concepts Program was established in 2006 under the authority of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law on August 8, 2005, by President George W. Bush, authorizing DOE to advance nuclear R&D.[3] It evolved from earlier ART efforts, launching cooperative agreements in 2010 with awards like $20 million in 2020 for ARC-20 projects, supporting designs like BWXT’s microreactor by 2025, with milestones including the 2015 TRP process and ongoing integration with ARDP demonstrations.
Funding
Initial funding in 2006 came from Congressional appropriations, with unspecified startup amounts supporting early R&D.[4] Funding began in 2006 and continues, with over $56 million invested by 2020 ($20 million in FY 2020 alone), requiring a 20% industry match, with no end date as appropriations sustain efforts like 2025’s $5 million for supercritical CO2 research.
Implementation
The program was implemented through cost-shared cooperative agreements with industry, universities, and labs, funding R&D on reactor subsystems like liquid metal and gas coolants across states like Idaho and Tennessee.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, supporting over 20 projects, with 2025 efforts refining Brayton cycle tech and aiding post-Helene energy resilience via modular designs.
Related
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-technologies
- https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-demonstration-program - ARDP Overview
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:United States Department of Energy
Social media
References
- ↑ "Advanced Reactor Technologies," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-technologies, accessed February 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Advanced Reactor Technologies," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-technologies, accessed February 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Energy Policy Act of 2005," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-technologies, accessed February 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Advanced Reactor Concepts Program Awards," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/energy-departments-advanced-reactor-demonstration-program-awards-20-million-advanced-reactor, accessed February 22, 2025.
- ↑ "Advanced Reactor Concepts Program," U.S. Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/ne/advanced-reactor-technologies, accessed February 22, 2025.