Skip to Main Content U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environment,

Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Regulatory

Enabling the safe use of nuclear power

Nuclear-generated electricity produces benefits beyond keeping our homes warm, lights on, and cell phones charged. The federal government estimates use of carbon-free nuclear energy in America avoids some 650 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory understands nuclear power and its many environmental, energy, and economic benefits. We apply and leverage our expertise, built over five decades, to help facilitate the construction of new reactors, safely extend the lives of existing reactors, address waste management issues, and reduce concerns that nuclear materials might end up in the wrong hands.

At the heart of our efforts is the development of Advanced Condition Monitoring—an innovative concept that integrates sensors and fundamental understanding of materials with interpretive and predictive modeling. ACM will enable real-time, predictive performance measurement for nuclear reactors, making virtually all aspects of power generation more efficient and safe, and informing the development of improved reactor technologies.

We specialize in:

New Reactor Siting and Design Certification [+ expand/ - collapse]

Sustained Reactor Operations [+ expand/ - collapse]

International Regulatory Programs [+ expand/ - collapse]

Fuel Cycle Research and Development [+ expand/ - collapse]

Commercial-Scale Technology Development [+ expand/ - collapse]

Life Extension [+ expand/ - collapse]

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts

Nuclear Energy and the Environment

Capabilities

Contacts

Featured Research

EED News