Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act Projects

Stored: Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act Projects

Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act Projects

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	Office of Nuclear Energy
Top Organization	Department of Energy
Creation Legislation	Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-248)
Website	Website
Purpose	NEICA Projs, run by DOE’s Office of Nuc Energy, fund R&D of adv nuc reactor tech to boost energy security, cut emissions, & keep US lead in nuc energy, targeting microreactors & fuel tech by 2035.
Program Start	2018
Initial Funding	$50 million
Duration	Ongoing
Historic	No

The Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA) Projects, established in 2018 under the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017, are administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) through its Office of Nuclear Energy to provide competitive grants and contracts to researchers, national labs, and private companies, allocating over $2 billion since inception to support approximately 100 projects annually by 2025. Initially funded with $50 million, it has grown to distribute $500 million in FY 2024 across 100 awards, funding initiatives like microreactor development, advanced fuel testing, and nuclear test facility upgrades at sites like Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Despite its impact, challenges like funding competition, regulatory barriers, and long development timelines persist (web ID: 4), but it remains a key DOE effort to innovate nuclear energy.

Official Site

Goals

• Expand U.S. capabilities in nuclear energy research, development, and demonstration.
• Enhance energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower energy costs through advanced nuclear technologies.
• Foster public-private partnerships and maintain U.S. leadership in global nuclear innovation by 2035.

Organization

The NEICA Projects are managed by DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, overseen by Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm since 2021, with the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and national labs implementing projects under federal oversight. It operates via annual appropriations, guided by the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act and subsequent funding acts like Public Law 117-328 (2022).

Partners

• National Reactor Innovation Center
• Idaho National Laboratory
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Nuclear Energy Institute

History

Authorized by the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-248) and launched in 2018 with $50 million, the NEICA Projects expanded with annual appropriations, reaching $500 million in FY 2024. It grew from funding 20 projects annually in 2019 to 100 by 2025, addressing energy challenges with innovations like microreactors (web ID: 4). By 2025, it has awarded over $2 billion, though GAO notes funding competition concerns (web ID: 4).

Funding

Initial funding of $50 million in 2018 supported the program’s launch, with over $2 billion appropriated by 2025 via annual DOE budgets—e.g., $500 million in FY 2024. Ongoing appropriations under the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act sustain its operations, with no fixed end as it targets innovations by 2035.

Implementation

NEICA Projects distribute competitive grants and contracts annually, requiring applicants to propose advanced nuclear R&D meeting DOE goals, tracked via DOE’s grants management system. It progresses through partnerships with labs and companies—e.g., 100 projects yearly—and program expansions, adapting to energy needs with no set end, though regulatory barriers remain a challenge (web ID: 4).

Related

• Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP)
• Nuclear Energy University Program

External links

• https://www.energy.gov/ne/neica
• https://www.nric.energy.gov
• wikipedia:Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act

Social media

• https://twitter.com/energy
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-department-of-energy