Illinois Nuclear Power Institute
Illinois Nuclear
Power Institute
Ushering in the next generation of safe, clean, reliable, and versatile nuclear energy systems
Core Objectives
Deployment Optimization
Establishing best practices for siting, licensing, and commissioning nuclear reactors.
Operational Excellence
Leveraging a commercial unit to train operators and refine procedures for future fleets.
Utilization Research
Demonstrating diverse applications (heat, hydrogen, power) to maximize economic value.
Fostering Innovation
Serving as a neutral hub for vendors, utilities, and researchers to solve deployment challenges.
Public Outreach
Engaging communities through transparent communication and education to build trust in advanced nuclear technology.
About the Illinois Nuclear Power Institute
The Illinois Nuclear Power Institute (INPI) within The Grainger College of Engineering serves as a transformational R&D hub dedicated to solving critical deployment challenges. By offering access to world class facilities—including a planned commercial microreactor operating under a research license—INPI provides a comprehensive platform for stakeholders to innovate in operation, utilization, and deployment within a realistic environment.
Vision
To position Illinois as a global leader in nuclear innovation and deployment by advancing transformative advanced reactor and energy system technologies; developing the next generation of nuclear professionals; and enabling the safe, reliable, and sustainable deployment of nuclear energy to meet society’s growing energy, environmental, and security needs.
Mission
The Illinois Nuclear Power Institute advances nuclear science, engineering, technology, and policy through integrated research, education, and partnerships. The Institute brings together universities, industry, advocacy groups, and government across diverse sectors to accelerate innovation in advanced reactors and supporting technologies. Through workforce development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic engagement with stakeholders, the Institute strengthens the nuclear ecosystem, supports the deployment of next-generation nuclear systems, and ensures that nuclear energy remains a cornerstone of a resilient, low-carbon energy future.
Key Capabilities
What the Illinois Nuclear Power Institute (INPI) offers to the nuclear industry, regulation, and world
Microreactor Testbed
INPI will host a commercial vendor designed microreactor (~45 MWth) operating under a research license. This facility allows the center to tackle a wide range of projects such as:
- Validating commercial designs in a flexible research setting.
- Test implementation and controls on actual commercial hardware.
- Develop "fleet-ready" operational standards.
Energy Systems Integration
INPI offers a unique opportunity to study integration across diverse operating environments:
- Microgrid dispatch optimization.
- Digital twins and real-time simulation.
- Hybrid nuclear-renewable validation.
Systems Analysis
INPI provides advanced capabilities in computational modeling, cyber-physical testbeds, and rigorous engineering assessments. This allows partners to simulate complex reactor behaviors, validate safety margins, and optimize system performance prior to physical deployment.
Licensing & Go-to-Market Strategies
Navigating the regulatory landscape is critical for deployment. INEC offers expertise in developing licensing pathways, safety cases, and commercialization strategies. We leverage our direct NRC licensing experience to help partners de-risk regulatory hurdles and accelerate the path from concept to market.
Workforce Development
The center cultivates a comprehensive training ecosystem based on real-world deployment and operation experience:
- Reactor operator certification.
- Regulatory analysis coursework.
- Public engagement modules.
- Internships with national labs.
Research Thrusts and Projects
See the current projects and research undertaken by the INPI
Affiliated Projects and Groups
Partnership Opportunities
INPI welcomes collaboration with:
Utilities
- Integration studies
- Deployment planning
- Operator &Technician training
- Public policy & engagement
Vendors
- Licensing strategy
- Application Development
- Modeling & Simulation
- Talent pipeline
Regulators
- Industry perspective
- Research & Development
- Data collection
- Workforce development
International Organizations
- Infrastructure assessment
- Independent Technology review
- Feasibility study
- Human capital development
Join us in defining the operational future of the nuclear fleet.
INPI Contacts
Have questions or proposals? Reach out to one of the institute's contacts below and we'll try to get back to you as quickly as possible! If you have questions related to the Illinois Microreactor Demonstration Project, please direct them to our microreactor email.
Caleb Brooks
INPI Director, Professor
111C Talbot Laboratory
(217) 265-0519
csbrooks@illinois.edu
Timothy Grunloh
INPI Associate Director, Principal Research Scientist
217 Talbot Laboratory
(217) 244-1504
tgrunloh@illinois.edu
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