CASL was the first Energy Innovation Hub established by the United States Department of Energy in 2010. CASL connected fundamental research and technology development through an integrated partnership of government, academia, and industry that extended across the nuclear energy enterprise.
Nuclear power provides nearly 20 percent of the United States’ energy and 55 percent of our carbon-free energy. As nuclear plants have been retired, keeping existing reactors working efficiently and preparing for the next generation of reactors have been the priority.
To address this challenge the US Department of Energy established the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, or CASL, in 2010. Based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, CASL was the first Energy Innovation Hub—an integrated research center focused on a single topic, with the objective of rapidly bridging basic research, engineering development, and commercialization using a unique collaboration of the nation’s leading scientists, institutions, and supercomputers
The aggressive 10-year mission to confidently predict the performance of existing and next-generation commercial nuclear reactors through comprehensive, science-based modeling and simulation culminated in the licensing and deploying the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA) to the nuclear industry in 2020.
Improving nuclear power's flexibility in responding to electricity demand, or load follow, as well as producing more power over longer periods.
Enhancing safety through evaluation of new fuels that can better endure the severe conditions within a reactor.
Saving energy providers and consumers millions of dollars annually through improved reactor component and fuel burnup performance.
Extending the life of existing reactors through improved understanding of neutron interaction and materials degradation.
CASL is the first Energy Innovation Hub established by the United States Department of Energy in 2010. CASL connects fundamental research and technology development through an integrated partnership of government, academia, and industry the extends across the nuclear energy enterprise.
