Background
Used nuclear fuel represents a potentially important untapped resource for the nation’s nuclear fuel supply chain. Less than five percent of the potential energy in the nation’s nuclear fuel is extracted after five years of operation in a commercial reactor. Effective recovery and recycling of used fuel could reduce the need for mined natural uranium and decrease the amount of high-level nuclear waste generated.
Funding Opportunity Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy created the used nuclear fuel recycling technologies funding opportunity to support research and development activities to achieve a cost-effective circular economy and reduce the volume of high-level nuclear waste that needs to be dispositioned.
Selections
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a total of $19.3 million to the following five U.S. companies to research and develop recycling technologies for used nuclear fuel:
- Alpha Nur Inc.
- Curio Solutions, LLC
- Flibe Energy Inc.
- Oklo Inc.
- Shine Technologies, LLC
Announcements
- Read the press release announcing five companies selected to receive used nuclear fuel recycling technologies awards, published February 5, 2026.
- Read the press release announcing used nuclear fuel recycling technologies funding opportunity, published December 20, 2024.
The award period of performance is up to three years and will require a minimum of 20 percent cost share from funding recipients. Recycling used nuclear fuel could increase resource utilization by 95 percent, reduce waste by 90 percent, and decrease the amount of uranium needed to operate nuclear reactors.