According to the university, the agreement “strengthens joint efforts in energy, security technology, and research” and supports USU’s role in the state’s goal to double Utah’s energy-generating capacity by 2035, which includes plans for a nuclear facility in northern Utah.
The agreement will include research into services supporting nuclear power, such as nuclear material recycling, product separation, waste monitoring, radiation detection, energy storage systems, and environmental engineering and modeling.
“The partnership through SUPER places Utah State at the forefront of discovery for meeting Utah’s energy needs,” said USU President Brad L. Mortensen.
It will also include developing tools for the extraction and processing of critical minerals and research on automation, control, and cybersecurity of machinery and vehicles.
“Idaho National Laboratory is pleased to enter into this agreement as it marks an important step forward in our partnership and creates new opportunities to expand the capacity, efficiency, and impact of critical research initiatives,” said INL Deputy Lab Director Todd Combs. “INL and USU will collaborate on research, host joint workshops and conferences, and establish a joint appointment program to enhance research and academic collaborations.”
SUPER agreements: INL currently has SUPER agreements with 13 universities, and USU is the third in Utah to be added to the list, joining Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. According to the lab, the documents “establish a framework for INL and the respective institutions to formalize the parties’ interest in developing and improving applied and advanced energy technologies and infrastructure” and is “less formal than a contract but more binding than a handshake.”
INL entered an agreement with Missouri University of Science and Technology last year, which included research into integrated energy systems, advanced nuclear reactors, electric and power grid systems and security, and advanced materials and manufacturing for extreme environments.
