Advancements in nuclear energy infrastructure are on the horizon as the US Army, backed by expertise from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is moving forward with the development of advanced nuclear systems. Particularly, they're eyeing microreactors as a robust addition to support the nation's military installations and national security.
ORNL welcomed members of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment (OASA IE&E) to the lab for a comprehensive briefing on nuclear energy innovations. The OASA (IE&E)'s responsibilities include policy development, oversight, and coordination of Army installations, real estate, and related affairs. During their visit, which featured tours and presentations, the attendees were apprised of ORNL's work on a microreactor set to service two Army bases. The tours were led by none other than the lab’s director, Stephen Streiffer, and Mickey Wade, director of Fusion and Fission Energy and Sciences at ORNL, according to an article published by ORNL.
The collaboration between the Army and ORNL is significant given the laboratory's longstanding partnership with the Department of Defense in addressing national security challenges through scientific advancements. ORNL's Nick Prins, national security technical coordinator for their Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division, highlighted the lab's unique approach. "Central to ORNL’s mission is delivering technical breakthroughs that can address the major issues facing the nation," Prins was quoted as saying. "Our world-class expertise across nuclear science will be vital to meeting the Army’s goal of greater energy resiliency through advanced nuclear and the utilization of microreactors."
UT-Battelle manages ORNL under the Department of Energy's Office of Science, which stands as the largest supporter of basic research in physical sciences in the U.S. The ongoing project aligns with ORNL's mission to pioneer advanced reactor concepts and to offer pragmatic solutions strengthened by their extensive research and development in nuclear science. Innovations from ORNL are projected to not only enhance the Army's operational capabilities but also bolster infrastructure resiliency on a national scale.
