Texas A&M Awarded $5.4 Million to Explore Turning Nuclear Waste into Fuel

­U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly announced on Thursday, Oct. 29, that the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) has been awarded a $5.4 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to develop innovative reactor fuel technology that could help transform long-lived nuclear waste into a valuable energy resource while advancing the future of nuclear power.

The project, Turning Nuclear Waste into Fuel with a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, is led by Dr. Lin Shao, professor in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University. It brings together researchers from TEES, Savannah River National Laboratory and industry partner, Natura Resources, to address one of the most significant challenges facing the nuclear energy sector — the management of used nuclear fuel and its long-lived radioactive components.

Danly announced the award during a visit to the Texas A&M campus, where he met with university leaders, toured energy research facilities and learned more about the institution’s contributions to advancing the nation’s energy security and nuclear innovation.

“America’s energy future depends on bold innovation and strong partnerships between the federal government, national laboratories, universities and industry,” Danly said. “This project demonstrates how we can address long-term nuclear waste challenges while advancing technologies that strengthen our nation’s energy security. The Department of Energy is proud to support research that has the potential to unlock new value from existing nuclear materials and accelerate the deployment of advanced reactor systems.”

The grant represents a significant milestone for Texas A&M’s research enterprise and highlights the university’s growing role in furthering technologies crucial to the nation’s energy future. The project exemplifies the collaborative approach needed to solve challenges at the intersection of energy security, innovation and reliability.

“The Department of Energy’s investment in this project reflects the critical role universities play in advancing technologies that serve our state and nation,” said Texas A&M University President Dr. Susan Ballabina. “Texas A&M is proud to contribute research that addresses complex energy challenges while creating opportunities for innovation, workforce development and economic growth.”

The project further expands Texas A&M Engineering’s leadership in advanced nuclear energy research and reinforces the university’s longstanding partnership with the DOE.

“Texas A&M Engineering is honored to receive this support from the Department of Energy to advance groundbreaking nuclear energy technologies,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M Engineering and director of TEES. “This research aligns directly with our mission to solve the nation’s most pressing engineering challenges through innovation and collaboration. We have an opportunity to develop solutions that reduce nuclear waste, improve energy reliability and help maintain American leadership in advanced nuclear technologies.”

According to Shao, the project aims to address two critical national priorities, including reducing the long-term burden of nuclear waste and developing advanced reactor technologies capable of delivering reliable energy for future generations. Researchers will integrate fuel preparation, experimental testing, computational modeling and reactor design throughout the project. 

As energy demand continues to grow nationwide, advanced reactor concepts such as molten salt reactors are drawing increasing interest for their potential to provide reliable, carbon-free power while improving fuel utilization and addressing long-term waste management concerns.

The grant-supported research builds on Texas A&M Engineering’s extensive nuclear energy research portfolio and its commitment to developing technologies that strengthen U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness.