U of I, Advanced Energy Consortium earn $500K to advance clean energy

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The University of Idaho College of Engineering is part of the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium leading the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor (INEC) Tech Hub, which was recently awarded a $500,000 Consortium Accelerator Award from the federal government through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

Funding will be used to implement INEC’s strategy and business plan focused on advanced nuclear reactor deployments, including technology advancements, workforce and supply chain development, and fuel support for the domestic nuclear industry.

Recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for its ability to strengthen workforce development and the region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize and deploy technology, INEC is one of the identified regions across the nation selected for its high potential to become an epicenter for globally competitive innovation.

The award highlights the INEC Tech Hub’s continued role in strengthening U.S. economic and national security as the only advanced nuclear tech hub. The award marks INEC’s passage into the EDA’s Phase 2 funding opportunity earlier in August.

“U of I is proud to be part of the consortium of global leaders who are putting our region front and center as a powerhouse of competitive research and next-generation nuclear technologies,” said Suzie Long, dean of the U of I College of Engineering. “INEC reaching this next step in the phased funding process is a testament to the incredible advanced manufacturing capabilities our region has been strengthening for decades.”

U of I was recently endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for its nuclear technology management master’s program. U of I is one of two U.S. universities to hold this endorsement.

U of I’s nuclear engineering program in Idaho Falls began in 1954 and was developed in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the advanced nuclear energy leader responsible for the world’s first usable electricity generated by nuclear power and innovation in small modular reactor (SMR) technology. Idaho is host to the first micro and SMR demonstration and deployment. SMRs are known for their lower cost and improved safety and security. The reactors use energy from a controlled nuclear chain reaction to create steam, which powers a turbine to produce electricity.

U of I and INL research initiatives funded by federal and state agencies include advanced nuclear energy reactors, advanced manufacturing across food-energy-water systems, cyberinfrastructure and cybersecurity, as well as biotechnology development for renewable materials production and critical materials extraction and recovery.

U of I is also a partner in the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub, led by Gonzaga University, which will focus on the development of advanced composite materials in the Inland Northwest to create lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft at a lower cost.

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Media Contact

Alexiss Turner 
Marketing and Communications Manager
U of I College of Engineering
208-885-7511
alexisst@uidaho.edu