GE Hitachi gets big government grant for research project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The federal government has selected GE Hitachi to lead a research and development project.

The company will receive a multi-million dollar investment from the Department of Energy to develop an updated safety assessment of the company’s PRISM sodium-cooled fast reactor.

Work on the project will be done at GE Hitachi’s plant in New Hanover County.

A company spokesman says GE Hitachi’s grant is part of $13 million spread across five companies. The research investment is part of a program through which DOE partners with industry in developing next generation nuclear technology that has the potential to achieve significant advances in safety, efficiency and economics.

In 2013, DOE also authorized a $1 million research investment for GEH to develop new insulation material for the PRISM electromagnetic coolant pump. This project is expected to conclude successfully next year.