2009 Annual Reports Issued for Nuclear Energy Research Initiative and International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative
On July 2, 2010, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) issued annual reports for its Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) and International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (I-NERI), describing accomplishments achieved in 2009. The NERI and I-NERI programs have furthered DOE goals for the past decade, conducting research into many of the key technical issues that impact the expanded use of advanced nuclear energy systems. Researchers have fostered innovative ideas in advanced nuclear energy systems and nuclear hydrogen production, nuclear fuels and advanced materials, non-proliferation, and waste treatment.
With this report, the NERI program, having successfully transitioned into the Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP), is concluding its functions of integrating university research into larger technical programs while enhancing the Nation's nuclear-related educational infrastructure.
I-NERI will continue to leverage the U.S. investment in nuclear technology research with comparable contributions from collaborating countries, drawing from the best expertise around the world to jointly develop innovative nuclear technologies.
Both the university-led NERI research and its international counterpart efforts led by National laboratory scientists have supported NE’s principal applied nuclear research programs: the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems (Gen IV) and the Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCR&D) programs.
The two reports summarize the results of ongoing and recently completed research projects and provide abstracts of new I-NERI projects awarded in FY 2009. Future university-led projects funded by DOE-NE will be discussed in NEUP annual reports, the first of which will be published in fall 2010.
