The program intends to develop an enhanced accident tolerant fuel (EATF), a fuel that is more resistant under severe accident conditions, for reacors involving a loss of cooling.

Under the contract, AFS will complete the initial research and development phase, select the most capable solutions and design the EATF to deploy lead test assemblies or rods into a commercial power reactor in 2022.

Since 2012, the AREVA-led team has been working on the first phase of the project.

The AREVA-led team, which includes the US utilities Tennessee Valley Authority and Duke Energy, the Universities of Wisconsin and Florida as well as the Savannah River National Laboratory, will be joined by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and US nuclear operator Dominion Generation.

The team evaluated technologies which offer nuclear power plant operators more time to manage an accident situation.

The University of Florida developed pellets with several additives, which will be inserted into the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory this summer.

Areva Federal Services president and CEO Tara Neider said: "Thanks to AREVA’s experience regarding commercial fuel as well as our extensive research and development capabilities, we can provide DOE with the support needed to achieve their goal and launch tests in commercial reactors in 2022.

"This project is an excellent example of successful collaboration between public, private and academic sectors to ultimately optimize the safety and reliability of all nuclear reactors in operations."