Topic #: CW26-T10 · Branch: DOE · Status: Open
The primary mission for the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet key energy resilience and economic needs in the United States. Proposed projects must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of NE's three major goals: keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, and securing and sustaining nuclear fuel cycles.
Posted: 10/30/2026 · Opens: 10/30/2026
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The primary mission for the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet key energy resilience and economic needs in the United States. Proposed projects must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of NE's three major goals: keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, and securing and sustaining nuclear fuel cycles.
To address the challenges facing the existing fleet and the development and deployment of nuclear energy systems, this topic area targets possible solutions needed for reactor sustainability and advanced reactor development and deployment, including high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), molten salt reactors (MSRs), microreactors, light water small modular reactors, space power reactors, and other
concepts. Applications are sought with special emphasis on bridging gaps between early-stage research and commercialization. By funding projects in the areas of interest below, NE aims to build a resilient, secure, highly automated, and economically competitive nuclear infrastructure for both the existing fleet and advanced reactors.
Areas of Interest Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
• Graphite component development and lifecycle support to enable deployment of high temperature gas reactors (HTGR) and Molten Salt Reactors (MSR). • Thermal hydraulic development to support HTGRs. • Liquid metal reactor components including electromagnetic pumps, roller bearings (radial and thrust) for refueling sodium reactors, oxygen sensors. • Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) components including heat pipe heat exchangers, high speed and high-power electronics for controlling permanent magnet rotors, and high temperature seals for high-speed rotating components. • MSR technology development, including MSR components and systems (e.g., valves, pumps, gaskets, and heat exchangers); supply chain development for salt synthesis, purification, isotope enrichment, recycling, transport, and storage; and radionuclide management. • Integration of nuclear power plant heat for industrial production purposes, including development of components that enable high-temperature nuclear applications. • Full nuclear system digital twins of advanced reactors (e.g. MSR, HTGR, liquid metal, etc.) to reduce licensing timelines or improve performance. • Minimizing proliferation, cyber, and security risks for nuclear technologies while maintaining affordability. • Technologies that improve the performance and affordability of existing large light water reactors and advanced microreactors and small modular reactors, including approaches to enhance plant economics, output capacity, and longevity, as well as advanced construction techniques, autonomous control, robotics, and other innovations that reduce costs. • Enhancing safety and reducing technical and regulatory risks. • Analyzing and reducing manufacturing and construction costs for nuclear plants.
Not of Interest Areas NOT of interest to this sub-topic: • Entirely new micro and small modular reactor concepts. • Activities not tailored for the nuclear power sector.