CX-271003: Supply of Materials for Prototypic Fabrication Development and Advanced Irradiation Testing (Lightbridge)

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will support the testing of advanced nuclear fuel developed by Lightbridge Corporation. The project involves designing, fabricating, shipping, irradiating, and examining small experimental fuel samples to evaluate their performance under conditions similar to those in commercial nuclear power reactors. INL will serve as the lead organization for this work, with Lightbridge Corporation as the primary industry partner. Irradiation testing will be conducted at the Atomic Alchemy demonstration reactor, an off-site private facility. INL will also coordinate with project partners, including Atomic Alchemy and Oklo, to support safe transportation and testing activities. The purpose of this project is to obtain real-world performance data on an advanced nuclear fuel design. Testing under controlled reactor conditions is required before new fuel designs can be licensed for use in commercial nuclear power plants. The data generated will support the development of safer, more efficient nuclear fuels that could improve the performance of existing reactors and support future small modular reactors. These advancements contribute to clean energy generation, energy security, and scientific understanding of nuclear fuel behavior.