The U.S. Department of Energy is turning to private industry to help build a new generation of facilities to recycle used nuclear fuel, an effort that could create fresh opportunities across the nuclear supply chain.
The agency’s Offices of Nuclear Energy and Environmental Management issued two requests for applications April 22, seeking proposals from companies to design, construct and operate facilities that would recycle, reprocess and fabricate nuclear fuel.
For contractors and developers, the opportunity goes beyond a single project, signaling a longer-term federal push to build out a domestic nuclear fuel recycling industry.
The push comes alongside a new Defense Production Act consortium designed to bring together companies across the nuclear fuel supply chain, giving participants a framework to collaborate on projects ranging from fuel production to recycling.
One of the requests calls for a commercial-scale demonstration project to recycle defense-related used nuclear fuel at a federal site in Idaho, while a parallel effort focuses on broader commercial fuel recycling and fabrication capabilities.
Initial applications are due June 19, with additional submissions accepted on a rolling basis, according to the Department of Energy.
The requests for applications are rooted in the fact that most of the energy in nuclear fuel goes unused under the current once-through system, leaving significant potential for reuse through recycling and reducing the need for newly mined uranium.
Photo by Rob from Pexels
For more of the latest from the expansive government marketplace, check Government Market News daily for new stories, insights and profiles from public sector professionals. Check out our national contracting newsletter here.
