The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a solicitation that makes $900 million available through federal funds to support the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR).
Originally issued in October 2024, the DOE announced the reissue of the solicitation on Monday as the agency works to better align with the Donald Trump administration’s agenda to utilize more American energy, according to the solicitation.
The $900 million is intended to support projects that lead to fleet-level deployment of Generation III+ light water small modular reactors (Gen III+ SMRs). SMRs could be used to meet the increasing demands for electricity or heat, as stated in the solicitation.
The DOE said it is providing funding to mitigate the risk of the deployment of Gen III+SMR through the two tiers of so-called “First Mover Team Support and Fast Follower Deployment Support.”
Tier 1, First Mover Team Support, applicants will be tasked to submit a near-finished design that demonstrates technology that can be permitted, licensed and certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a possible deployment in the early 2030s.
Tier 2, Fast Follower Deployment Support, will fund efforts to address gaps, such as improved designs, licensing support, supplier developments, and site preparation, for future nuclear deployment.
Applications will be due on April 23, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
