(a) Demonstration project defined
For the purposes of this section, the term “demonstration project” means an advanced nuclear reactor operated in any manner, including as part of the power generation facilities of an electric utility system, for the purpose of demonstrating the suitability for commercial application of the advanced nuclear reactor.
(b) EstablishmentThe Secretary shall establish a program to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of domestic advanced, affordable, nuclear energy technologies by—
(1) demonstrating a variety of advanced nuclear reactor technologies, including those that could be used to produce—
(c) Demonstration projectsIn carrying out demonstration projects under the program established in subsection (b), the Secretary shall—
(1) include, as an evaluation criterion, diversity in designs for the advanced nuclear reactors demonstrated under this section, including designs using various—
(2) consider, as evaluation criterions—
(A)
the likelihood that the operating cost for future commercial units for each design implemented through a demonstration project under this subsection is cost-competitive in the applicable market, including those designs configured as integrated energy systems as described in section 16272(c) of this title;
(C)
the technical abilities and qualifications of teams desiring to demonstrate a proposed advanced nuclear reactor technology; and
(3) ensure that each evaluation of candidate technologies for the demonstration projects is completed through an external review of proposed designs, which review shall—
(A) be conducted by a panel that includes not fewer than 1 representative that does not have a conflict of interest of each within the applicable market of the design of—
(B)
include a review of each demonstration project under this subsection which shall include consideration of cost-competitiveness and other value streams, together with the technology readiness level, the technical abilities and qualifications of teams desiring to demonstrate a proposed advanced nuclear reactor technology, the capacity to meet cost-share requirements of the Department, if Federal funding is provided, and environmental impacts;
(4)
for federally funded demonstration projects, enter into cost-sharing agreements with private sector partners in accordance with section 16352 of this title for the conduct of activities relating to the research, development, and demonstration of advanced nuclear reactor designs under the program;
(5) consult with—
(6)
seek to ensure that the demonstration projects carried out under this section do not cause any delay in the progress of an advanced reactor project by private industry and the Department of Energy that is underway as of December 27, 2020;
(7)
establish a streamlined approval process for expedited contracting between awardees and the Department;
(9) support near-term research and development to address the highest risk technical challenges to the successful demonstration of a selected advanced reactor technology, in accordance with—
(10) establish such technology advisory working groups as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to advise the Secretary regarding the technical challenges identified under paragraph (8) and the scope of research and development programs to address the challenges, in accordance with paragraph (9), to be comprised of—
(d) Milestone-based demonstration projects
The Secretary may carry out demonstration projects under subsection (c) as a milestone-based demonstration project under section 7256c of this title.
(e) Nonduplication
Entities may not receive funds under this program if receiving funds from another reactor demonstration program at the Department in the same fiscal year.
(f) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program under this subsection—
(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 959A, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2003(g)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2467.)