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3D Systems Collaborates with Savannah River National Laboratory to Advance 3D Printing in Nuclear Energy Systems

3D Systems Corporation of the United States announced on August 27 that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), under which the two parties will conduct joint research and development on additive manufacturing technology to advance its application in advanced energy production, nuclear energy systems, energy infrastructure resilience, and related mission scenarios. Under the agreement, the two parties will leverage SRNL's Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) to advance work in advanced materials development, equipment upgrades, AI and machine learning-assisted process optimization, manufacturing systems, cybersecurity, and workforce development. Collaboration goals include developing next-generation additive manufacturing materials, real-time process optimization tools, and scalable production solutions...

2026-08-28

Fifth Mega Saltstone Disposal Unit Approved for Operation at U.S. Savannah River Site

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management announced on August 25 that it has approved the operation of the fifth mega saltstone disposal unit at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. Designated as SDU 10, the facility will receive purified material for final disposal, marking a new milestone in the site's cleanup program. According to reports, SDU 10 completed construction in June 2024, nearly 10 months ahead of schedule. Its leak-tightness testing was completed in December 2025, and the test results verified that the unit can safely store up to 33 million gallons of purified, solidified salt solution generated at the Savannah River Site. Saltstone disposal units are the end-stage facilities in the salt waste treatment process.

2026-08-26

U.S. Laboratory Advances Nuclear Waste Cleanup Technology R&D with Artificial Intelligence

Researchers in South Carolina, U.S., are leveraging artificial intelligence to develop new tools for tackling complex tasks such as nuclear material disposal, waste management, and environmental cleanup. The relevant projects are being conducted at the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) in Aiken, a facility affiliated with the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), spanning approximately 63,000 square feet, with the project launched on August 7, 2025. The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative brings together researchers, engineers, students, industry partners, and university teams, with a focus on advancing R&D in artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, and advanced materials. Johnny Green, Director of the Savannah River National Laboratory, stated that...

2026-08-19

Flammable Gas Analysis Completed for Legacy Transuranic Waste Containers at U.S. Savannah River Site

AIKEN, South Carolina — The Solid Waste and Deactivation and Decommissioning team at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) recently completed a critical task, performing flammable gas analysis on multiple legacy high-dose-rate transuranic (TRU) waste containers. The results confirmed that these containers meet safety requirements for shipment to an underground waste disposal facility. Following this analysis, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management will resume shipments of remote-handled transuranic waste drums from the Savannah River Site (SRS) to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico for permanent disposal. Flammable gas sampling is an important safety step prior to the transportation and disposal of transuranic waste. Workers...

2026-08-11

U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration Extends Savannah River Site Management and Operating Contract to September 2027

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced on August 10 that it has exercised the remaining option on the Savannah River Site (SRS) Management and Operating contract with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, extending contract performance through September 30, 2027, with an estimated contract value of $2.3 billion. NNSA stated that exercising this remaining option will help maintain continuity and stability of the contractor workforce, allowing related work to continue advancing around the agency's critical missions. The current SRS Management and Operating contract was originally scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026...

2026-08-11

Dominion Energy Renews Early Site Permit for North Anna Nuclear Plant

Dominion Energy Virginia is taking steps to renew the early site permit for its North Anna nuclear power plant, originally issued in 2007. Located in Louisa County, the North Anna plant currently operates two reactors. The company submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on July 14, seeking to extend the early site permit for a period of 20 years, or 20 years from the date of issuance, whichever is later. The NRC has formally acknowledged receipt of the request and is reviewing it for docketing acceptance. An early site permit is an optional process through which the NRC can confirm whether a site is suitable for a new nuclear power plant; obtaining such a permit can reduce risks of delays during the licensing and construction process...

2026-08-04

U.S. to Resume Shipping Transuranic Waste Drums from Savannah River Site to WIPP for Permanent Disposal

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) will resume shipping remote-handled transuranic waste drums from the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico for permanent disposal on July 28, 2026. Prior to resuming shipments, relevant teams have completed flammable gas analysis, confirming that these waste containers meet safety requirements for transport to the underground disposal facility. Flammable gas sampling is a critical safety step before transuranic waste transportation. Workers assess potential combustion risks inside containers by detecting gases such as hydrogen, methane, and volatile organic compounds, and confirm their safety during transport and disposal...

2026-08-03