The Science council for Global Initiatives

Newsletter of the Science Council for Global Initiatives
thesciencecouncil.com - October 2025

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is stepping up efforts to modernize nuclear power by pairing a reactor pilot program and a fast-track pathway for advanced nuclear fuels. The reactor pilot is designed to shorten the gap between laboratory research and commercial demonstration, and offers a process for testing and validating new reactor designs under DOE oversight. At the same time, DOE is advancing domestic fuel development to ensure these reactors have the specialized fuel supplies they need to operate, reducing reliance on foreign sources.

These initiatives represent a dual strategy: prove that new reactor designs can work safely and reliably at scale, and secure the next generation of nuclear fuel to keep them running. The approach will accelerate deployment timelines, create new industrial supply chains, and maintain the U.S. as a leader in advanced nuclear energy.

DOE Initiative	Focus	Goal	Broader Impact
Reactor Pilot Program	Demonstration of advanced reactor designs	Move from lab to grid more quickly	Expand clean energy options, validate new technologies
Advanced Fuel Projects	Domestic fuel production and supply	Ensure next-generation fuels are available	Reduce foreign dependence, build resilient supply chains

Below are some of the articles we've recently added to our website.

DOE fast-tracks four nuclear fuel projects

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Oklo, Terrestrial Energy, TRISO-X, and Valar Atomics for a new pilot programme to build advanced nuclear fuel lines. It will support DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program that aims to have at least three reactors achieve criticality by 4 July 2026.

Read the article at neimagazine.com

DOE’s reactor pilot: A turning point for US nuclear energy?

The Department of Energy’s nuclear program could be transformational for the energy sector if even one reactor demonstrates commercial operation safely, writes Foley & Lardner partner Jocelyn Lavallo.

The Department of Energy’s new reactor pilot program is not just another research initiative. It represents a bold experiment to see if advanced nuclear can move from concepts to real projects, and do so rapidly. If successful, this program could redefine how the United States develops nuclear energy; if it fails, it may reinforce lingering doubts about the ability of the U.S. to build next-generation nuclear projects at scale.

Read the article at utilitydive.com

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SCGI News Bits - October 2025

DOE’s reactor pilot: A turning point for US nuclear energy?