The US Army has announced a call for proposals to develop on-site microreactor nuclear power plants through its Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program.
The initiative, announced here, aims to enhance the Army’s energy resilience by providing reliable electricity generation and distribution, reducing dependence on off-site providers, and mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events and cybersecurity threats.
According to the call for submissions, the Army currently relies on off-site electricity to support its critical missions, spanning air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace. This energy dependence creates mission risks due to potential disruptions. While renewable energy solutions like wind and solar are carbon-free, their intermittent nature requires additional measures to ensure a consistent power supply.
“The Army is seeking a novel approach using recent advances in the nuclear industry that can provide continuous/reliable power regardless of weather conditions to 1) maintain military mission continuity and 2) comply with Congressional mandate under the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to provide its critical missions with a goal of 99.9 percent reliable energy by 2030.”
The Army is requesting Solution Briefs for a full lifecycle microreactor power plant that would commence operations at a Continental United States Army installation before the end of 2030. They outlined that the desired solution features include fuel enriched to 20% or less U-235, the capability to generate between 3MW and 10MW of electrical power, local control and dispatch capabilities, and passive safety features.
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