The industry has political support with grants and tax credits, financial backing with loan guarantees, and popular support, all driven by clean energy initiatives to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
With talk of all the new technologies for the existing light water reactor fleet and development of small modular and advanced reactors, Framatome knows a strong workforce is essential. It’s also just as important to get the next generation workforce excited and engaged in the nuclear industry to help drive our future.
Thanks to TRIGA International – a joint venture between Framatome and General Atomics – university students are getting the necessary fuel to once again operate test reactors, which is vital to helping train our future workforce. The TRIGA International SAS joint venture was created in 1995 to market TRIGA fuel elements manufactured at CERCA Romans (France).
Following extensive renovations at the facility, Framatome relaunched the fabrication of TRIGA metallic fuel elements and thus their supply for continued operations of TRIGA research reactors throughout the world. Earlier this fall, the first shipment – 30 TRIGA fuel elements - was delivered to Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, thanks to support and funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“A skilled workforce is essential for our future, and training and research reactors play a significant role in the development and future of our industry,” said François Gauché, vice president of CERCA at Framatome and president of TRIGA International. “Delivering this first shipment of safe and reliable fuel for research reactors is a significant milestone for our program and could not have been possible without the support of the U.S. Department of Energy.”
TRIGA is a nuclear reactor model designed by General Atomics that is used for research and hands-on training activities. More than 66 TRIGA units have been built around the world out of which 38 are still in operation.
Framatome CERCA is the world’s unique manufacturer and supplier of uranium-zirconium hydride fuel for use in TRIGA type research reactors.