The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeks public input on its plans to create a new program that will ensure the availability of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel in the U.S. The establishment of a HALEU Availability Program is essential to the demonstration and commercial deployment of advanced reactors, including two demonstration projects that will receive $2.5 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help support the nation’s climate, national security and job creation goals. The request for information will be used to help develop a HALEU supply program and will also be considered by DOE in preparing its report to Congress.

Many of the advanced reactors under development require HALEU fuel to achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles and increased efficiencies. HALEU is not available at commercial scale from domestic suppliers, and a lack of this commercial supply chain could significantly impact the development and deployment of U.S. advanced reactors and increase the risk and uncertainty for private investment in the production of HALEU.

HALEU is enriched between 5% and 20% with uranium-235, the main fissile isotope that produces energy during a chain reaction; current reactor fuel is enriched up to 5%. The material is required by most U.S. advanced reactors to achieve smaller designs that generate more power per unit of volume.

DOE projects that more than 40 metric tons of HALEU will be needed by 2030 with additional amounts required each year to deploy a new fleet of advanced reactors in a timeframe that supports the Administration’s net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

The full request for information can viewed on the Federal Register. Written comments and information are requested on or before January 13, 2022.