Research Reactor Infrastructure (RRI)

The Department provides fresh fuel to, and takes back spent fuel from, university research reactors. There are currently 27 operating university research reactors at 26 institutions in the United States. Many of these facilities have permanent fuel cores and therefore do not require regular fuel shipments. However, DOE supplies approximately a dozen universities with fresh fuel and shipments of spent fuel as needed. These reactors are unique and irreplaceable assets for technical education and are used for a variety of research, educational and training purposes. Currently, a program is underway cooperating with the National Nuclear Security Administration to convert the reactors with highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium.