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Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced funding for 10 new research projects under the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI). The funding will be used to pursue investigation of innovative, next generation nuclear reactors and advanced power conversion system cycles, proliferation resistant nuclear reactor and fuel systems, and fundamental nuclear science research. Researchers are from seven universities, five national laboratories, five private sector organizations, one government agency and include collaborators from six foreign research organizations.

Secretary Richardson also announced the award of 13 new grants to 11 universities for innovative nuclear engineering research under the department's Nuclear Engineering Education Research (NEER) initiative.

"These programs are a model of how federal investment can be successfully leveraged to draw upon the best ideas of the Nation's universities, research laboratories and private sector partners in collaboration with international research organizations to turn today's innovative ideas into tomorrow's advanced nuclear energy technologies," said Secretary Richardson. "These technologies are an important element of the administration's strategy for affordable, reliable and environmentally sustainable energy."

Started last fiscal year at a level of $19 million and continued this year with $22.5 million, the NERI program supports innovative, investigator-initiated research and development to advance next generation nuclear technologies. Over 120 proposals were received and went through a peer review process before the department selected 10 for funding this year. In addition to the new research, 46 research projects started last year under NERI are continuing.

NERI awards range from approximately $90,000 to $500,000 each for the first year of funding and will total $9,940,000 over three years. The research projects include investigations of thorium in pressurized water reactors to enhance proliferation resistance and reduce waste; designing compact, factory produced, transportable Generation IV reactor systems; and investigating the use of nuclear power to produce hydrogen for energy.

The NERI program was created in response to the recommendations of the November 1997 report by the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology to initiate a research and development program by the department to address issues important for ensuring a viable nuclear option for the future, including nuclear waste disposal, proliferation concerns, and economics. The NEER program was started in 1998 to strengthen the Nation's nuclear engineering education infrastructure.

NEER, funded at $5 million this year, sponsors investigator-initiated nuclear engineering research at universities that is vital to attracting, educating and training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The 13 new research projects were also selected through a peer review process from over 90 proposals received. NEER is also continuing 30 research projects at 15 universities started during the last two years.

This year's NEER awards range from about $80,000 to $130,000 for work authorized in the first year of funding and will total $3,240,000 over three years. Some of the promising new research under NEER includes mammographic imaging studies using Monte Carlo analytical techniques; direct conversion of radioisotope energy to electricity; and research to develop a highly efficient gas ionization chamber for patient imaging in radiation therapy.

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