Delivering Nuclear Energy That is Faster, Safer, Cheaper

Blue glow from Cherenkov radiation illuminates the submerged reactor core of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High Flux Isotope Reactor during refueling.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High Flux Isotope Reactor during a refueling. While submersed in water, the spent fuel emits a blue glow due to Cherenkov radiation, in which shedding electrons move through the water faster than the speed of light.
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Challenge

Nuclear power plants have historically been challenged by long development timelines and burgeoning costs, limiting America’s ability to deliver affordable, resilient, and reliable energy as demand continues to grow—particularly from AI data centers. 

AI Solution

This initiative will accelerate nuclear energy deployment by using AI to design, license, manufacture, construct, and operate reactors with human-in-the-loop workflows, enabling at least 2x schedule acceleration and greater than 50% operational cost reductions. To meet these goals, we are using a suite of explainable AI solutions including surrogate models, agentic workflows, autonomous labs, and digitals twins. For example, for reactor operations, we will use digital twin systems with AI components that will interpret complex operational data in real time. 

Justification

DOE's combination of national laboratory nuclear expertise, test facilities (e.g., INL’s Advanced Test Reactor, Transient Reactor Test Facility, Fuel Conditioning Facility, Hot Fuel Examination Facility, and Collaborative Computing Center; Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor; Argonne National Laboratory’s Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop Facility), decades of operational data, industry partners, and extensive computational ecosystem uniquely position it to accelerate reactor deployment. DOE’s partnership with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will enable workflows to drive design, licensing, manufacturing, construction, and operational excellence. 

National Impact

This challenge will provide Americans more affordable energy while reducing human error, strengthening national security, and directly supporting U.S. energy dominance with multi-billion-dollar cost savings per gigawatt of generating capacity.