Review of DOE’s Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program

There has been a substantial resurgence of interest in nuclear power in the United States over the past few years. One consequence has been a rapid growth in the research budget of DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). In light of this growth, the Office of Management and Budget included within the FY2006 budget request a study by the National Academy of Sciences to review the NE research programs and recommend priorities among those programs. The programs to be evaluated were: Nuclear Power 2010 (NP 2010), Generation IV (GEN IV), the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI), the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)/Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) facilities. This book presents a description and analysis of each program along with specific findings and recommendations. It also provides an assessment of program priorities and oversight. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Nuclear Power 2010 3 The Generation IV and Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative Programs 4 The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative and Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Programs 5 Idaho National Laboratory 6 Program Priorities, Balance, and Oversight Appendixes Appendix A: Minority Opinion: Dissenting Statement of Gilinsky and Macfarlane Appendix B: Minority Opinion: An Alternative to Technology Proposed for GNEP, Offered by Levy, Kazimi, and Dally Appendix C: Biographical Sketches for Committee Members Appendix D: Acronyms Appendix E: Presentations and Committee Meetings Appendix F: Statement of Task