The Department of Energy has revealed its first selections for its Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear’s (GAIN)nuclear energy voucher program.
According to DOE GAIN’s Dec. 18 press release, the first round of recipients for fiscal 2026 are:
- BWX Technologies Advanced Technologies, based in Lynchburg, Va.
- NuScale Power, in Corvallis, Ore.
- Orbia Fluor and Energy Materials Inc., in Madison, Wisc.
BWXT Advanced Technologies will be awarded to work on the modeling of realistic spatially resolved 3D tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) particles in compact. The company will work on the project in conjunction with DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory.
The other two recipients will work with DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory In Tennessee for their projects.
NuScale will be awarded to work on an artificial intelligence (AI) guided fuel management for a 12-unit small modular reactor nuclear plant. While Orbia Fluor and Energy Materials will work on the development of high-purity graphite matrix for nuclear TRISO fuel.
DOE GAIN nuclear energy voucher program allows nuclear companies to be permitted access to DOE’s national laboratories to support nuclear innovation.
While the GAIN program provides the nuclear industry technical, regulatory and financial support to the developers, the voucher recipients do not receive direct financial awards, the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy said.
The GAIN vouchers provide funding to DOE laboratories to help companies overcome technological and commercialization challenges. The awardees are also responsible for a minimum 20% cost share, according to the press release.