California-based compact fast reactor developer Oklo has been awarded $6.1m (€5.8m) in funding to enable the recycling of used nuclear fuel from the current US light-water nuclear reactor fleet into advanced reactor fuel.

Oklo will work on the cost-share project with the Argonne National Laboratory, radwaste company Deep Isolation and Case Western Reserve University of Ohio. The work will support the commercialisation of California-based Oklo’s reactor technology by using the energy content in waste and converting it into clean energy.

Today’s reactors only consume about 5% of the energy content contained in their fuel. Nearly 95% of the energy content remains unused. Oklo says its technology can unlock much of this remaining energy content.

This work in strengthening the domestic fuel supply chain will facilitate “a cleaner and more secure energy future for the country”, a statement said.