Dr. John Wagner, Director of Idaho National Laboratory, discusses DOE National Labs, current projects like MARVEL and PELE, collaboration opportunities, fusion research, and the future of nuclear energy. He elaborates on the development cycle of reactors, regulatory support, and the lab's involvement in advancing nuclear innovation.
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insights INSIGHT
INL Overview
INL, one of 17 DOE National Labs, focuses on advanced nuclear research and critical infrastructure security.
It played a crucial role in early nuclear energy development, generating the first usable nuclear electricity.
question_answer ANECDOTE
INL History
INL, established in 1949 as the National Reactor Testing Station, has a rich history in nuclear energy.
52 reactors were built and operated on-site, contributing to global nuclear reactor design.
insights INSIGHT
INL Vision
INL's vision is to change the world's energy future and secure critical infrastructure.
Nuclear energy integration with renewables and cybersecurity are key focus areas.
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INL is one of 17 national labs in the United States and leads the nation in work on advanced nuclear research. INL boasts a rich legacy in the narrative of nuclear energy, marked by its pivotal role in producing the inaugural usable electricity from nuclear sources on its premises. Dozens of reactors have been built at INL during its decades of operation.
Dr. Wagner has been with INL since 2016 and has been director of the lab since 2020. Prior to that, he was the division director at the Reactor and Nuclear Services division at Oak Ridge National Lab. He has a PhD in nuclear engineering from Penn State University and has spent his career working to advance nuclear energy innovation.
In our conversation, we cover the history of INL, its key priorities, current projects under development, and Dr. Wagner’s vision for our nuclear future.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:00] DOE National Labs Overview
[5:24] Introduction to Idaho National Laboratory
[12:14] Current projects & reactors at INL, including Advanced Test Reactor (ATR)
[14:10] INL's upcoming projects: MARVEL, PELE
[15:39] How INL supports private firms in nuclear tech development
Inevitable 