US Department of Energy backs five advanced nuclear reactor concepts US Department of Energy backs ... The goal of the latest DOE grants is to promote the development of safer, more efficient reactors for deployment in 10 to 14 years 1/2 TRISO fuel particles are coated in three layers of carbon and one of ceramic to prevent the release of radioactive waste US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy 2/2 The goal of the latest DOE grants is to promote the development of safer, more efficient reactors for deployment in 10 to 14 years The US Department of Energy (DOE) is backing five projects to develop advanced nuclear reactor designs to be built in the United States by private industry. Under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy's US$30 million initial funding is expected to grow to US$600 million over seven years with industry providing an additional 20 percent.