# ORNL Expands Reactor Fuel Testing

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is expanding accident-testing and analysis capabilities to generate evidence for Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing of accident-tolerant and high-burnup light-water-reactor fuels. ORNL and commercial partners have conducted 16 loss-of-coolant-accident tests in four years and plan to nearly double testing in the coming years. The effort points to potential collaboration areas in nuclear fuel testing and analysis, but no solicitation or contract award was announced.

- Fuel manufacturers, reactor operators, and firms with relevant testing or analysis capabilities can assess whether their expertise aligns with ORNL’s expanded research activity.
- The work supports licensing evidence for advanced fuel designs, making it relevant to organizations involved in nuclear fuel qualification and reactor operations.
- Because the signal identifies no procurement notice, contract value, or deadline, it does not establish an active bid opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

### Vendors
- Westinghouse (Fuel manufacturer and research collaborator)
- Southern Nuclear Company (Commercial reactor operator and research collaborator)
- Constellation (Commercial reactor operator and research collaborator)
- Framatome (Fuel manufacturer and research collaborator)
- Global Nuclear Fuel (Fuel manufacturer and research collaborator)

### Key Quotes
> Improving light water reactor fuels offers a direct path toward producing abundant, affordable energy from the nation’s 94 currently operating nuclear reactors.
> — Jason Harp, Leader, Nuclear Fuel Element Performance Group

### Sources
- [Fast-tracking efficiency in light water reactor fuels – Oak Ridge National Lab](https://www.ornl.gov/news/fast-tracking-efficiency-light-water-reactor-fuels/) - ORNL