Energy Department announces effort to boost nuclear fuel supply chain

Ministry of Energy announced On Wednesday, an initiative aimed at building up the country’s nuclear fuel supply chain as interest in the emissions-free energy source grows.

DOE is asking states to express interest in hosting “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses” that will support activities throughout the nuclear fuel lifecycle, including spent fuel recycling.

Only 5% of the energy value is used by a reactor, meaning spent fuel has the potential to be recycled. There is currently no commercial-scale uranium recycling in the United States. This would also prevent spent uranium from ultimately being sent to Yucca Mountain, DOE said.

Ultimately, one of the proposed campuses could accommodate the entire fuel cycle, from enrichment to recycling. The sites could potentially include advanced reactors, power generation, and co-located data centers, as it is easier to do everything under one roof rather than transporting fuel.

Given the surge in interest in nuclear power, driven in part by the massive energy needs of hyperscalers, the ministry said one of these campuses could attract $50 billion in capital investment from the private sector.

“Unleashing America’s next nuclear renaissance will spur innovation, spur economic growth and create good-paying jobs in America, while providing the affordable, reliable and safe energy America needs to power its future,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. He added that this would be “an opportunity to work directly with states on regional priorities that support President Trump’s vision of revitalizing America’s nuclear base.”

Nuclear accounts for about 21% of U.S. power, but the country depends on imports for much of its uranium.

Earlier this year, DOE announced $2.7 billion in funding aimed at strengthening the nation’s enrichment facilities. Centrus was awarded $900 million It will increase production at its factory in Piketon, Ohio. The plant has not yet reached commercial scale.

The Trump administration has made nuclear energy a cornerstone of national energy policy. President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders last May aimed at speeding the deployment of nuclear reactors large and small by reducing regulations.

Management signed an agreement with Westinghouse owners last fall cameco And Brookfield Asset Management The DOE, which will spend $80 billion to build large nuclear reactor designs across the U.S., has several initiatives to accelerate the deployment of small, advanced reactors.

Wright said in November that most of the department’s loan money would go towards building nuclear power plants.

“When we leave office in three years and three months, I hope to see dozens of nuclear power plants under construction,” Wright said at the time.