Sec. 127. Innovation in advanced nuclear technology through demonstration
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Congress finds that— the national security nuclear enterprise, which supports the nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship and naval reactors functions of the National Nuclear Security Administration, requires a domestic source of low- and high-enriched uranium due to legal restrictions regarding foreign obligations relating to the beginning stage of the nuclear fuel cycle; many domestic advanced nuclear power industry participants require access to high-assay, low-enriched uranium fuel for— operation of demonstration reactors; and initial fuel testing; commercial operation of advanced nuclear reactors; as of the date of enactment of this Act, no domestic uranium enrichment or fuel fabrication capability exists for uranium fuel enriched to greater than 5 weight percent of the uranium-235 isotope; a healthy commercial nuclear fuel cycle capable of providing higher levels of enriched uranium would benefit— the relevant national security functions of the National Nuclear Security Administration; and the domestic advanced nuclear industry of the United States; and making limited quantities of high-assay, low-enriched uranium available from Department of Energy stockpiles of uranium would allow for initial fuel testing and demonstration of advanced nuclear reactor concepts, accelerating— the path to market of those concepts; and the development of— a market for advanced nuclear reactors; and a resulting growing commercial nuclear fuel cycle capability.
Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term advanced nuclear reactor means— a nuclear fission reactor, including a prototype plant (as defined in sections 50.2 and 52.1 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)), with significant improvements compared to the most recent generation of fission reactors, including improvements such as— additional inherent safety features; lower waste yields; improved fuel performance; increased tolerance to loss of fuel cooling; enhanced reliability; increased proliferation resistance; increased thermal efficiency; reduced consumption of cooling water; the ability to integrate into electric applications and nonelectric applications; modular sizes to allow for deployment that corresponds with the demand for electricity; and operational flexibility to respond to changes in demand for electricity and to complement integration with intermittent renewable energy; or a nuclear fusion reactor.
The term demonstration project means an advanced nuclear reactor operated— as part of the power generation facilities of an electric utility system; or in any other manner for the purpose of demonstrating the suitability for commercial application of the advanced nuclear reactor for the generation of electricity or other useful energy output. The purpose of this section is to direct the Secretary, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section, to advance the research and development of domestic advanced, affordable, and clean nuclear energy by— demonstrating different advanced nuclear reactor technologies that could be used by the electric power sector to produce— emission-free power at a levelized cost of electricity of $60 per megawatt-hour or less; heat for community heating, industrial purposes, or synthetic fuel production; remote or off-grid energy supply; or backup or mission-critical power supplies; developing subgoals for nuclear energy research programs that would accomplish the goals of the demonstration projects carried out under subsection (c); identifying research areas that the electric power sector is unable or unwilling to undertake due to the cost of, or risks associated with, the research; and facilitating the access of the electric power sector— to Federal research facilities and personnel; and to the results of research relating to civil nuclear technology funded by the Federal Government.
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable— complete not fewer than two advanced nuclear reactor demonstration projects by not later than December 31, 2030; and establish a program to demonstrate not fewer than two, and not more than five, additional operational advanced reactor designs by not later than December 31, 2035. In carrying out demonstration projects under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— include diversity in designs for the advanced nuclear reactors demonstrated under this section, including designs using various— primary coolants; fuel types and compositions; and neutron spectra; seek to ensure that— the long-term cost of electricity or heat for each design to be demonstrated under this subsection has the capability of being cost-competitive in the applicable market; and the selected projects can meet the deadline established in paragraph
(1)to demonstrate first-of-a-kind advanced nuclear reactor technologies, for which additional information shall be considered, including— the readiness level of a proposed advanced nuclear reactor technology; the technical abilities and qualifications of teams desiring to partner with the Department to demonstrate a proposed advanced nuclear reactor technology; and the capacity to meet cost-share requirements of the Department; ensure that each evaluation of candidate technologies for the demonstration projects is completed through an external review of proposed designs, which review shall— be conducted by a panel that includes not fewer than 1 representative of each of— an electric utility; and an entity that uses high-temperature process heat for manufacturing or industrial processing, such as a petrochemical company, a manufacturer of metals, or a manufacturer of concrete; and include a review of cost-competitiveness and other value streams, together with the technology readiness level, of each design to be demonstrated under this subsection; enter into cost-sharing agreements with partners in accordance with section 988 for the conduct of activities relating to the research, development, and demonstration of private-sector advanced nuclear reactor designs under the program; work with electric power sector partners to identify potential sites, including Department-owned sites, for demonstrations, as appropriate; and align specific activities carried out under demonstration projects carried out under this subsection with priorities identified through direct consultations between— the Department; National Laboratories; institutions of higher education; traditional end-users (such as electric utilities); potential end-users of new technologies (such as users of high-temperature process heat for manufacturing processing, including petrochemical companies, manufacturers of metals, or manufacturers of concrete); and developers of advanced nuclear reactor technology. In carrying out demonstration projects under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— identify candidate technologies that— are not developed sufficiently for demonstration within the initial required timeframe described in paragraph (1)(A); but could be demonstrated within the timeframe described in paragraph (1)(B); identify technical challenges to the candidate technologies identified in subparagraph (A); support near-term research and development to address the highest-risk technical challenges to the successful demonstration of a selected advanced reactor technology, in accordance with— subparagraph (B); and the research and development activities under section 958; and establish such technology advisory working groups as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to advise the Secretary regarding the technical challenges identified under subparagraph
(B)and the scope of research and development programs to address the challenges, in accordance with subparagraph (C), to be comprised of— private-sector advanced nuclear reactor technology developers; technical experts with respect to the relevant technologies at institutions of higher education; and technical experts at the National Laboratories. The Secretary shall establish goals for research relating to advanced nuclear reactors facilitated by the Department that support the objectives of the program for demonstration projects established under subsection (c). In developing the goals under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate, on an ongoing basis, with members of private industry to advance the demonstration of various designs of advanced nuclear reactors. In developing the goals under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that— research activities facilitated by the Department to meet the goals developed under this subsection are focused on key areas of nuclear research and deployment ranging from basic science to full-design development, safety evaluation, and licensing; research programs designed to meet the goals emphasize— resolving materials challenges relating to extreme environments, including extremely high levels of— radiation fluence; temperature; pressure; and corrosion; and qualification of advanced fuels; activities are carried out that address near-term challenges in modeling and simulation to enable accelerated design and licensing; related technologies, such as technologies to manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear waste, are developed; nuclear research infrastructure is maintained or constructed, such as— currently operational research reactors at the National Laboratories and institutions of higher education; hot cell research facilities; a versatile fast neutron source; and a molten salt testing facility; basic knowledge of non-light water coolant physics and chemistry is improved; advanced sensors and control systems are developed; and advanced manufacturing and advanced construction techniques and materials are investigated to reduce the cost of advanced nuclear reactors. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2035. . The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( Public Law 109–58 ; 119 Stat. 594) is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 959 the following: Sec. 959A. Advanced nuclear reactor research and development goals. . Section 951(b)(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16271(b)(1) ) is amended by striking The term and inserting Except as provided in section 959A, the term . Subtitle B of title VI of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( Public Law 109–58 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall establish a pilot program for a long-term nuclear power purchase agreement. In developing the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall— consult and coordinate with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that may benefit from purchasing nuclear power for a period of longer than 10 years, including— the Secretary of Defense; and the Secretary of Homeland Security; and not later than December 31, 2023, enter into at least 1 agreement to purchase power from a commercial nuclear reactor that receives the first license for that reactor from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after January 1, 2021. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to power purchase agreements for first-of-a-kind or early deployment nuclear technologies that can provide reliable and resilient power to high-value assets for national security purposes or other purposes as the Secretary determines to be in the national interest, especially in remote off-grid scenarios or grid-connected scenarios that can provide capabilities commonly known as islanding power capabilities during an emergency scenario. An agreement to purchase power under this section may be at a rate that is higher than the average market rate, if the agreement fulfills an applicable consideration described in paragraph (1). . The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( Public Law 109–58 ; 119 Stat. 594) is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 639 the following: Sec. 640. Long-term nuclear power purchase agreement pilot program. . Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following: Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 10-year strategic plan for the Office of Nuclear Energy of the Department, in accordance with this section. The strategic plan under this section shall designate— programs that support the planned accomplishment of— the goals established under section 959A; and the demonstration programs identified under subsection
(c)of that section; and programs that— do not support the planned accomplishment of demonstration programs, or the goals, referred to in subparagraph (A); but are important to the mission of the Office of Nuclear Energy, as determined by the Secretary. In developing the strategic plan under this section, the Secretary shall specify expected timelines for, as applicable— the accomplishment of relevant objectives under current programs of the Department; or the commencement of new programs to accomplish those objectives. Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an updated strategic plan in accordance with subsection (b), which shall identify, and provide a justification for, any major deviation from a previous strategic plan submitted under this section. . The table of contents for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( Public Law 109–58 ; 119 Stat. 594) is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 959A the following: Sec. 959B. Nuclear energy strategic plan. .
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- Pub. L. 109-58
- 119 Stat. 594
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Sec. 127
Innovation in advanced nuclear technology through demonstration
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109-58
Stat.119 Stat. 594
Cites 3Cited by 0 across 0 sources