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National Lab Conducts First-Ever High Burnup U.S. Fuel Safety Test

Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy sent this bulletin at 06/25/2025 04:55 PM EDT

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June 25, 2025

National Lab Conducts First-Ever High Burnup U.S. Fuel Safety Test

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) researchers just wrapped up a nuclear fuel test that has never been performed before in the United States.

Results from the first-of-a-kind experiment will provide important data that could help boost the performance and lower the amount of waste generated at nuclear power plants across the country.

Lab researchers performed transient testing on a high burnup fuel sample that was previously irradiated in a commercial reactor.

The experimental fuel rod was one of 25 shipped to the lab last year as part of an agreement between the state of Idaho and the U.S. government to help develop and license new fuel technologies.

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