Nuclear Futures Package: USD25 Million to Support Access to Clean Nuclear Energy
U.S. Support to Romania
On November 3, at the UN Climate Change Conference, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins announced the United States’ commitment of USD 25 million in support towards expanding access to clean nuclear energy. The announcement, also called a “Nuclear Futures Package,” represents efforts from across the U.S. government, and includes ongoing programs and projects under development to:
- advance large-scale, clean, and modern nuclear power generation,
- demonstrate the potential of nuclear-produced hydrogen to fuel the transition to clean energy, and
- advance innovative, secure, and safe nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors.
As part of the Nuclear Futures Package, the United States is pleased to partner with Poland, Kenya, Ukraine, Brazil, Romania, and Indonesia, among others, to support progress on meeting their nuclear energy goals. Efforts include capacity building, equipment, feasibility and siting studies, demonstration projects, study tours, site visits, technical collaboration, and more.
Included in this commitment is the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Initiative, which the United States launched at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate. Also included is the U.S. SMR Public Private Program and associated Small Modular and Advanced Reactor Standards and Regulations Workshop Series. These programs are designed to support key steps necessary for the safe, secure, and responsible deployment of emerging nuclear technologies.
The Nuclear Futures Package underscores the United States’ strong commitment to energy innovation and nuclear technology as an important component of achieving global climate change goals. In addition to Department of State, these activities are carried out by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Departments of Commerce and Energy.
U.S. Support to Romania
Romania is set to receive U.S. technical assistance to advance its goals to become an SMR educational and training hub in the region. The assistance covers cooperation on establishing an SMR simulator at one of its premier universities and support for an SMR siting study, a reverse trade mission, and an SMR regulations workshop series. This assistance will complement Romania’s commitment at COP26 to bring U.S. built SMR technology to Romania by possibly 2028.
FIRST program
The Department of State launched the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April 2021. Building on more than 60 years of U.S. innovation and expertise in nuclear energy, FIRST provides capacity-building support to partner countries as they develop their nuclear energy programs to support clean energy goals under the highest international standards for nuclear security, non-proliferation, and safety.
SMR PPP Program
The Small Modular Reactor Public-Private Program (SMR-PPP) is a U.S. Government interagency initiative led by the U.S. Department of Commerce that aims to position U.S. and European governments and companies to reap the economic and climate benefits of SMRs and support key the technical, regulatory, and financial steps to facilitate deploying these innovative technologies.
