(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) – The highly anticipated National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed is open for business.
DOME, located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is a first-of-its-kind microreactor test bed that will enable rapid development, testing and demonstration of privately developed advanced nuclear reactors. The test bed will play a role in reinvigorating the American nuclear energy industry and meeting the nation’s need to produce abundant, affordable and reliable power.
DOME was developed as a hands-on demonstration pathway for industry, recognizing that the nation’s growing demand for advanced nuclear energy required a dedicated, world-class testing environment that only a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory could provide. In support of the administration’s nuclear executive orders, construction of the test bed was accelerated by nearly a year to enable industry to meet the urgent need for advanced nuclear energy in the United States.
Officials from INL and the Department of Energy gathered at the Materials and Fuels Complex at INL to officially celebrate DOME’s grand opening on April 8.
“The DOME test bed will be a cornerstone of the Department of Energy’s comprehensive strategy to re-establish U.S. leadership in advanced nuclear technologies,” said Dr. Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors . “By providing essential infrastructure for testing and validation of new reactor designs, DOME directly supports our programmatic goals, accelerating the development and deployment of innovative solutions vital for energy security and economic growth for the United States. It is a testament to our commitment to a robust nuclear future.”
“DOME represents the kind of bold and creative infrastructure investment that America’s nuclear resurgence demands,” said INL Director John Wagner. “We are accelerating the next generation of nuclear innovators from concept to demonstration at a pace the industry has not seen in decades.”
Built from the repurposed Experimental Breeder Reactor-II dome, a former reactor facility at INL, the 80-foot-diameter, 100-foot-tall test bed provides a safe, flexible and capable environment for testing experimental reactor concepts and gathering performance data. Reactor developers will use that data to support design verification and future licensing. By offering real-world operating conditions and expert support, DOME is poised to significantly reduce the time and cost required to deploy next-generation nuclear technologies. It is designed to host microreactor experiments generating up to 20 megawatts of thermal energy.
“NRIC built this test bed to answer the need of industry to have a facility that would enable them to swiftly convert their innovative concepts into practical demonstrations,” said NRIC Director Brad Tomer. “With the information gathered from their testing at DOME, reactor developers will turn pioneering ideas into validated technologies to advance nuclear energy. We are extremely proud to offer this capability and cannot wait to see the impact it has on the nuclear industry.”
DOME experiments will be scheduled through an annual competitive application process. The sequencing of experiments is based on several criteria, including technology readiness, fuel availability and a regulatory approval plan. Applicants will fund their testing campaigns.
INL is preparing for DOME’s inaugural experiment, using nuclear fuel, this year. Radiant’s Kaleidos Demonstration Unit plans to start a year-long testing program this spring.