Greetings Grecia!

In this week’s issue, we examine the deluge of nuclear commitments made around Climate Week NYC and what they may mean for nuclear growth. We spotlight the Department of Energy’s updated Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear report which maps out the current nuclear fleet and the measures necessary to achieve the United States’ nuclear energy and climate change policy goals. Finally, we highlight key nuclear technology, security, and geopolitical developments, reports, and analyses.

This issue of Nuclear News and Views was produced by PGS Program Director, Patrick Kendall, and Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow, Emily Day.

The nuclear energy advocacy machine churned harder than Hurricane Helene at the recent Climate Week in New York City. The question is whether the collective commitments made there will generate the gale of actions necessary to triple nuclear power deployment by 2050. Because that objective faces some serious headwinds.

Early in the week, fourteen major banks and financial institutions offered an “expression of support” for the “call to action” to significantly expand nuclear energy that was endorsed at COP28 by over two dozen nations.

Included in the group were American, Canadian, European, and Middle Eastern financial institutions. This is a major step forward given that some previous ESG-focused financial funds excluded nuclear power as a clean energy technology.

Still, there was a nebulous nature to the financial commitment, as support for a call to action is fairly airy, and there was no clear backing for a specific project or nuclear technology.

There also was a conspicuous lack of a commitment from the U.S. government to financially partner with the private sector to make American nuclear energy competitive and deployable at the scale that the COP28 commitment contemplates.

President Biden’s Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy, declared that “I know we can make it happen – as long as we work together.” But the content of that togetherness was hard to find.

The Biden administration certainly deserves credit for delivering billions of dollars to keep existing reactors running, reopen decommissioned nuclear plants, support reactor exports to allied nations, and develop next-gen reactors.

But there is no order book for new nuclear plants in the U.S. and no clear strategy for the domestic and international market expansion that is the necessary foundation for success.

By contrast, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister was very specific. She noted that her government is exploring new financial models to deal with the high cost of nuclear projects after releasing a roadmap that called for two new nuclear plants. She stated that, “the Swedish government is exploring a proposed financing model which includes government-backed loans, Contracts-for-Differences (CfDs) and risk sharing mechanisms.”

Not to be outdone by New York, the Paris-based OECD Nuclear Energy Agency brought together 21 countries, including governments and industry, that committed to, “cooperate to fully unlock the potential for nuclear energy by taking measures that enable…construction of new nuclear capabilities and early deployment of SMRs.”

Many of the countries attending that event, including Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, France, Hungary, Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, and the U.K. have specific plans for new nuclear energy deployment.

While that U.S. was a party to that NEA declaration it does not have any new nuclear power plants being prepared for construction. However, the U.S. did release a new Advanced Nuclear Commercial Liftoff analysis at the end of the NY climate event.

This report focuses on opportunities for large and small American reactors, including electricity load growth that is being accelerated by AI, data centers, manufacturing, and overall electrification.

One interesting feature of the report is the concern it expressed about the “lack of learning” in the U.S. commercial nuclear sector related to the fact that there are over 50 unique reactor designs. This implies that there needs to be a rapid winnowing of the plethora of next-gen reactors currently under development, lest they suffer the same fate.

Another item of interest is the clear call for an “order book” for the future. Here, the major challenges are diagnosed as financial backing and efficient project delivery. Both are major and long-standing problems that will not be easily remedied. That is why a strategy for success is so desperately required.

Unaddressed in that report is the challenge posed by nuclear power competitors, including China, Russia, and South Korea, all of which can build reactors with comparable power outputs to America’s while charging less and reducing build times.

Also left unexamined is the requirement for a targeted approach to identifying international markets, particularly for smaller reactors, and the range of support that will be necessary to allow a new nation to effectively deploy nuclear power. Engagement alone, which seems to be the metric of choice, is not sufficient.

The inability to develop a strategic plan now, can allow the authoritarian governments of Russia and China to gain control over the international nuclear market.

This geopolitical perspective was surprisingly missing from the New York climate conversation. This, in part, may be because neither Russia nor China were active in the myriad nuclear announcements and events.

But there also is an underlying view among some climate experts that the clean output of nuclear energy from any provider is the prize. The reality is that the source of the technology matters for geopolitical and global security reasons and these issues need to be a larger part of the nuclear growth dialogue.

What New York Climate Week made clear is that nuclear energy now has the wind at its back, but the commitments made there may amount to just talk. Hot air can generate lift-off but what’s needed is a chain of concrete projects that can fuel the flight.

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has updated its pathway to nuclear commercial liftoff, projecting that the U.S. nuclear industry is poised for substantial growth, with capacity expected to triple from 100 GW in 2024 to 300 GW by 2050. The increasing demand for reliable, 24/7 power, driven by AI and data center growth, aligns nuclear energy with decarbonization goals and investment in new generation assets. Models suggest that the U.S. will require an additional 700-900 GW of clean energy capacity to achieve net-zero emissions. In response, utilities are extending reactor lifespans to 80 years, restarting previously closed reactors, and planning power uprates. The current fleet of 94 reactors supplies about 20% of U.S. electricity and nearly half of its carbon-free power. With 84 reactor licenses set to expire by 2050, and 24 by 2035, continued investment in renewals is essential. Power uprates could add 2-8 GW of capacity, while existing sites may support an additional 60-95 GW of new nuclear capacity. Multi-unit plants offer cost advantages, generating power 30% cheaper per megawatt-hour (MWh) than single-unit plants, further enhancing nuclear power’s economic appeal.

To achieve commercial liftoff, the U.S. needs to deploy 5-10 reactors of the same design, benefiting from cost reductions through repetition and lessons learned from the Vogtle project. The AP1000 reactors used at Vogtle offer a promising path forward, as future projects could deliver electricity for under $100/MWh with Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) benefits, and as low as $60/MWh with further cost reductions. Vogtle Units 3 and 4, now operational, serve as the largest clean energy generation site in the U.S. and provide insights into reducing construction costs for future reactors. The Inflation Reduction Act further supports this momentum by offering investment tax credits and loan guarantees for new projects. The nuclear industry is building momentum but must continue to address challenges to realize the full potential of clean power as part of the energy transition.

Emily Day, Della Ratta Fellow, Partnership for Global Security

Ukraine's Energoatom has contracted for a $12.35 million project to build protective structures at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant to shield it from potential Russian drone and missile attacks. This move follows President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's speeches to the United Nations, where he warned of Russia's increasing threats to Ukraine's nuclear energy infrastructure. The protective structures, modeled after those used at substations, aim to prevent damage to critical transformers amid ongoing Russian air strikes targeting energy facilities.

The Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant reported that Ukrainian forces attacked a nearby substation, destroying a transformer in Enerhodar. Despite the strike, power supplies to Enerhodar were not interrupted, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has urged both sides to avoid attacks on the sensitive site to prevent a potential nuclear disaster. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha then accused Russia of planning strikes on Ukrainian nuclear facilities ahead of winter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of using Chinese satellites to photograph Ukraine’s nuclear power plants in preparation for potential strikes. He warned that Russia's actions pose a serious threat to nuclear safety and key concern is damage to transformers, which can sever off-site power connections, disrupt critical reactor systems, and prevent energy from being offloaded to the grid, sometimes leading to emergency reactor shutdowns.

IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi commented on the ongoing tensions around Russia’s Kursk Nuclear Power Plant after visiting the facility last month. Grossi stated that the situation remains serious following Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, and that the power plant would be extremely exposed if it came under attack since the facility has no containment dome. However, Grossi added that the IAEA has no current plans to station permanent observers at the station.

Energoatom reconnected a 1,000 MW nuclear power unit to Ukraine's energy grid 12 days ahead of schedule following planned repairs. This marks a significant boost to the energy system, with the unit's capacity ramping up in time for the heating season. Energoatom’s head, Petro Kotin, praised the team's efficient work under challenging conditions, noting that all nine nuclear units under Ukrainian control will be ready for the upcoming winter months.

Ukraine is negotiating with the IAEA to station foreign observers near its nuclear power plants, aiming to protect its energy supply ahead of potential Russian attacks this winter. Kyiv fears that Russia, while avoiding direct strikes on nuclear facilities, may target infrastructure critical to their operation, increasing the risk of power disruptions. These talks come as Ukraine faces ongoing threats to its energy infrastructure, and the IAEA has warned of deteriorating safety conditions at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Ten industry associations issued a comminiqué at the Roadmaps to New Nuclear conference in Paris calling on all members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to set out clear plans for nuclear energy deployment. The OECD’s Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) said the conference’s discussions will inform the development of actionable policy recommendations for policymakers, nuclear power companies, and the nuclear energy sector. The NEA also announced the creation of a new Joint Undertaking of Roadmaps to New Nuclear, which will focus on addressing pressing issues in nuclear energy such as nuclear finance, supply chain readiness, and building a skilled and diverse nuclear workforce.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico announced plans to discuss building a new 1,200 MW nuclear power unit at the Jaslovske Bohunice plant during his visit to South Korea, as the government explores potential bidders. Slovakia aims to select from South Korean, U.S., and French companies, with final plans expected by the end of October. This follows Slovakia’s neighbor, the Czech Republic, choosing South Korea’s KHNP for its own nuclear projects earlier this year.

The U.S. Export-Import (Exim) Bank approved a $98 million loan for pre-project services to support the development of Romania's first NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) at the former coal plant site at Doicești. This SMR project aims for a 462 MWe capacity, creating thousands of jobs in construction, manufacturing, and operation, with plans to use six modules of NuScale technology. The partnership between the U.S. and Romania on SMRs began in 2019, and this loan is part of a larger international effort, including commitments from Japan, South Korea, and the UAE, to support the project's development and deployment.

Korean newspaper Hankyoreh reported that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) submitted a letter of interest to the Czech government implying that it would be willing to provide financial assistance for the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant expansion project. According to the document, KHNP received letters of interest from both the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) stating that the two organizations will consider financing the project. This is in contrast to claims from the Korean government that the Czech government would raise its own funds for the Dukovany project.

Slovenia and France signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in civil nuclear energy. One MoU is between France's state-owned energy company EDF and Slovenia's Jožef Stefan Institute, focusing on research and development in nuclear power plants and small modular reactors. The second MoU, signed between the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN) and the University of Maribor, aims to develop new higher education programs in nuclear science and technology, promoting student exchanges and joint projects. The collaboration is part of a broader effort to strengthen the European nuclear sector, aligning with climate neutrality goals and energy independence, and supports potential future developments at Slovenia's Krško nuclear power plant.

The Clean Air Task Force, the EFI Foundation (EFIF) and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) will establish the Nuclear Scaling Initiative (NSI) after receiving a philanthropic gift from Joe Gebbia and Isabelle Boemeke. The gift awards $5 million to the NSI partnership to produce and socialize analyses and intellectual products among relevant governments, stakeholders, and opinion leaders with the aim of transforming the nuclear energy ecosystem. The NSI will be a collaborative effort to catalyze and build a new nuclear energy ecosystem to scale to 50 or more gigawatts of nuclear power per year by 2030, a tenfold increase of the current deployment rate.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) will not renew its cooperation agreement with Russia when it expires in November of this year, ending its collaboration with up to 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions. CERN issued a statement that its activities with Russian scientists have been suspended since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but now the decision has been formalized. Prior to this decision, hundreds of Russian scientists linked to Russian laboratories were cooperating with CERN.

Argentina and El Salvador signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on nuclear energy, marking a significant step in El Salvador's efforts to adopt nuclear power. The MoU, signed by Argentina’s National Atomic Energy Commission and El Salvador's Agency for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program, aims to promote the exchange of technical expertise, training, and scientific cooperation. El Salvador’s goal is to diversify its energy mix with nuclear power, enhancing energy reliability and sustainability while supporting broader economic and scientific development.

Great British Nuclear (GBN) announced that there are four companies remaining in the contest to select technology for the United Kingdom’s proposed small modular reactor (SMR) program: GE Hitachi, Holtec, Rolls-Royce SMR, and Westinghouse. GBN will now proceed to negotiate with the remaining bidders on placing contracts by the end of the year and allocating sites with the potential to host multiple SMRs. The aim is for a final investment decision to be taken in 2029. There were initially six companies shortlisted by GBN for the project, with NuScale Power and Électricité de France (EDF) now out of the running.

South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) granted design approval to the SMART100 small modular reactor (SMR) design. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy applied for standard design approval for the SMART100 in 2019. The SMART100 is an advanced version of the original SMART design, which became the world’s first SMR to receive standard design approval back in 2012.

The Bulgarian government approved an exemption from certain restrictive measures against Russian nuclear operations in the country, allowing for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to award contracts to selected Russian companies. The decision allows for the import of Russian materials, technologies, and the use of Russian technical assistance as necessary for the implementation of ongoing projects. A large part of the systems and equipment at the Kozloduy plant originated in Russia, which is why some of the contracts for supplying goods and providing services have been signed or need to be signed with Russian companies.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that Sweden will begin construction of a new nuclear reactor before the country’s next legislative election in 2026. Kristersson’s government has vowed to ramp up nuclear energy in Sweden, stating that it wants to increase nuclear power production by the equivalent of two nuclear reactors by 2035 and more expansion to follow by 2045. Swedish company Vattenfall is currently in the process of conducting a feasibility study on the construction of at least two small modular reactors at the Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant, aiming to put the first one into commission in the first half of the 2030s.

Japan’s new economic minister, Yoji Muto, stated that Japan will need to maximize the use of existing nuclear power plants as artificial intelligence and data centers are expected to boost electricity demand. Muto added that the new administration under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will look to restart as many nuclear reactors as possible so long as they are safe. The Japanese government under Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida, worked to shift Japan back toward nuclear energy as a major power source following the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in 2011.

Some 14 financial institutions announced their support for the COP28 declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 at New York City’s annual Climate Week. The Biden administration’s senior advisor on international climate policy, John Podesta, gave opening remarks at the event and commended the financiers for taking action and supporting the deployment of nuclear energy to fight climate change. Among the institutions supporting the COP28 declaration are Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran gave a presentation outlining its nuclear sector plans at the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna. Among other updates and goals, Iran says it has three nuclear energy reactors under construction, with site and technology selection processes underway for more reactors. Iran currently has one reactor in operation at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with unit 2 under construction and a third unit also planned to begin construction by the end of the year. Iran’s goal is to reach 20 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2040.

Egypt has installed the inner containment building for unit 2 at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, with work also underway on the reactor vessel for the fourth unit. Alexey Kononenko, the director of the El Dabaa construction project, stated that Rosatom is building all four units at the power plant simultaneously, which will ensure the efficient development of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant construction. Rosatom began construction on El Dabaa in 2022 and will also be supplying Russian nuclear fuel for the facility’s entire life cycle.

Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant (RAPP) unit 7 achieved first criticality after receiving clearance from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. It joins Kakrapar units 3 and 4 in India’s fleet of indigenously designed pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR), with another PHWR unit at the Rajasthan plant currently under construction and expected to start generation next year. As well as Rajasthan units 7 and 8, four Russian-supplied VVER pressurized water reactors are under construction at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have welcomed the intention of the Polish government to allocate 60 billion zloty ($15.66 billion) to fund the country’s first nuclear power plant. The announcement came as the partners met with key stakeholders in Warsaw and Gdansk to showcase project progress, and local authorities were briefed on the latest project milestones. Poland chose Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design for its first nuclear power plant, with Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) implementing the project.

Fusion for Energy (F4E) completed the manufacturing of the first of five vacuum vessel sectors for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The ITER’s vacuum vessels house the fusion reactions and act as a first safety containment barrier. The component is set to be delivered to the construction site of the ITER tokamak fusion device in France. The ITER is a major international project to build a tokamak fusion device, with 35 nations collaborating on the project.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced its refurbishment project on its CANDU units at the Darlington Nuclear Power Plant is proceeding faster than expected. Company officials shared that the overall scope of work is 86% in its second quarter progress update and that unit 1 is on pace to be back online by the end of the year. OPG began the 10-year refurbishment project back in 2016 as part of a larger energy strategy by the Canadian government to expand its nuclear energy capacity in order to meet a rising demand for electricity.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that first safety-related concrete has been poured to the nuclear island of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant unit 4. As part of Phase 2 of the Zhangzhou power plant project, CNNC will supervise the construction of two Hualong One units at the site. CNNC added that Zhangzhou is the starting point for the mass production of the Hualong One reactor model, and that there are four such units currently under construction in China.

France’s nuclear safety authority, Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN), told France’s parliament that it will not be able to perform its duties next year if the government persists with insufficient budget plans. Preliminary figures point to a €37 million ($41 million) shortfall in the regulator’s current operating budget of €150 million for 2025. The recently formed French government is under pressure to rein in a ballooning budget deficit.

The Department of Energy has granted a $1.52 billion loan to the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant to support the plant’s restart, the first reopening of a nuclear power plant in U.S. history. Holtec International will use the funds for inspections, testing, restoration, rebuilding, and replacement of equipment at the plant. Holtec hopes to restart the plant in the fourth quarter of 2025 subject to approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Additionally, the Department of Agriculture announced more than $1.3 billion in its Empowering Rural America program awards for Wolverine Power Cooperative and Hoosier Energy to reduce the cost of electricity passed on to their members for clean power from the Palisades power plant and other clean energy sources.

Constellation Energy plans to restart the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant and will rename the facility to the Crane Clean Energy Center. Constellation signed a 20-year agreement with Microsoft, which will purchase electricity from the plant to match the energy its data centers consume with carbon-free power. Constellation expects unit 1 to come back online in 2028 and also plans to extend the plant’s operations to at least 2054. Three Mile Island Unit 1 ceased operation in 2019.

Nuclear startup company Oklo finalized an agreement with the Department of Energy for carrying out site investigations related to the company’s proposed small modular reactor in Idaho. The deal marks a key step towards construction and would help Oklo focus on geotechnical assessments, environmental surveys, and infrastructure planning. Oklo is aiming to develop its first SMR by 2027 but still needs a permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its proposed SMR plant.

The Department of Defense announced that it has broken ground on the site at Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex (CITRC) under Project Pele. Work is now underway at INL to prepare the infrastructure necessary to receive the fully assembled and fueled reactor when it arrives for testing. The DoD’s Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is in charge of the Project Pele project, which seeks to build a mobile microreactor that can help meet the Department’s increasing demand for carbon-free energy for mission-critical operations. BWXT Advanced Technologies will be designing the microreactor.

Kairos Power has started construction on a new facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that will produce “Flibe” molten salt coolant for its Hermes reactor. Hermes, a low-power reactor being built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program and could be operational as early as 2027. Kairos Power plans for the salt production facility to be operational and producing salt in 2026, supporting the company’s efforts to advance safe, affordable nuclear energy.

U.S. Representatives Mike Levin and August Pfluger have introduced the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024, which would establish an independent agency to manage the United States’ nuclear waste. In addition to establishing a single-purpose administration to manage the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the bill would direct a consent-based siting process for nuclear waste facilities and ensure reliable funding for managing nuclear waste. Additionally, Senators Ted Cruz and Martin Heinrich introduced a similar bill in the Senate, The Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act, which directs the Department of Energy and the National Academy of Science to create an independent committee of experts to study recycling U.S. spent nuclear fuel.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources opened a scheduled hearing on fusion energy technology development, probing the timeline for fusion energy deployment and supply chain needs after hearing from three invited witnesses. Department of Energy official Jean Paul Allain testified to the DoE’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences’ work with fusion energy developers on public-private partnerships and its recent publication of a vision and strategy. According to press reports, the United States is lagging behind China when it comes to nuclear fusion development, which was also discussed during the hearing.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced updated tariffs on Chinese imports as press reports suggest concern that Chinese imports may be used to circumvent the U.S. ban on Russian-produced nuclear fuel. However, these tariffs do not apply to import codes relating to the nuclear industry and instead apply to products that are “entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption”. In addition to these tariffs, U.S. uranium production for the first half of 2024 was measured at 180,242 pounds, a massive increase from just 49,619 pounds produced in all of 2023.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy selected its final vouchers under the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program for 2024. The recipients of the final round of funding include Nano Nuclear Energy, Advanced Nuclear Advisors, and Antares Nuclear Inc. NANO Nuclear Energy is partnering with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on the assessment of a novel heat exchanger for the Zeus microreactor, Advanced Nuclear Advisors is working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Project Sparkhub, and Antares Nuclear is partnering with Oak Ridge on independent analysis of its R1 microreactor.

During a meeting with the Mississippi Senate Energy Development, representatives from nuclear company Entergy and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) spoke with lawmakers about the importance of new nuclear power technology to meet demands from various industries. Lawmakers also wanted to know what they can do now to entice development of small nuclear plants, with NuScale official Clayton Scott adding that Mississippi would be a great candidate for a NuScale SMR project. Mississippi currently has one nuclear power plant, the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has postponed its vote on the nomination of Matthew Marzano to serve as a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) until after the upcoming presidential election. The committee’s notice did not give a reason for the schedule change. President Joe Biden nominated Marzano to become an NRC commissioner in July, and the vote had previously been scheduled to take place during a committee meeting on September 25.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold public meetings as part of its implementation of the ADVANCE Act. NRC Chair Christopher Hanson said the commission’s intent is to keep the public and stakeholders informed while incorporating the ADVANCE Act into its ongoing efforts. The Act sets requirements for reports and actions covering several aspects of the NRC’s activities, as well as planned public meetings and potential publication of preliminary material.

The Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) published a new report, “New Nuclear Project Development”, which provides a primer on nuclear power project development. Among the report’s analyses include what roles need to be filled, the stages of project development, and what capabilities are needed to be a nuclear power project developer. The NIA intends for the report to serve as a resource for stakeholders such as regulators, congressional staff, project developers, and nuclear energy advocates. Executive director of the NIA, Judi Greenwald, added in a statement that understanding project development will be increasingly important as the U.S. and other countries consider how best to support the development and deployment of advanced nuclear power.

Dutch nuclear energy development and consultancy company ULC-Energy BV completed a study analyzing the design and economic implications of using civil nuclear reactor technology to power a Newcastlemax bulk carrier. The study compares a nuclear-powered bulk carrier with one powered by conventional very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) and one powered by green ammonia. ULC-Energy BV concludes that the structural and safety modifications needed to integrate a nuclear reactor into a Newcastlemax bulk carrier would have minimal impact on its cargo capacity, and that nuclear propulsion offers the lowest operational cost per ton shipped.

The LeeWas Institute conducted a survey of nearly 20,000 Swiss residents regarding their opinions on new nuclear power plants. According to the survey, 53% of respondents were in favor of the construction of new nuclear plants in Switzerland, with 43% opposed to new nuclear construction and 4% undecided. This is a dramatic change compared to another survey conducted just weeks earlier which saw 51% of respondents oppose new nuclear reactors. In late August of this year, the Swiss government announced it will seek to lift the country’s ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 2018.

New Nuclear’s Pivotal Moment

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Are SMRs the Solution for Poland’s Energy Transition?

Enlit, October 1

Nuclear Power’s AI Renaissance

Axios, September 30

The Three Big Things Driving the Nuclear Energy Revival

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The Hottest Trend in Nuclear Power: Reopening Shuttered Plants

Canary Media, September 30

The U.S. Wants to Triple Nuclear Power by 2050. America’s Coal Communities Could Provide a Pathway

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Why Kazakhstan Is Pursuing Its Own Nuclear Power Programme

South China Morning Post, September 27

America’s Nuclear Power Revival Is Very Good News

The Washington Examiner, September 27

Why Microsoft Made a Deal to Help Restart Three Mile Island

MIT Technology Review, September 26

Playing Catch-Up on Cyber Safety

Nuclear Engineering International, September 25

The Bipartisan ADVANCE Act is Boosting US Nuclear. What Does the Industry Want Next?

Utility Dive, September 24

The AI Boom Is Raising Hopes of a Nuclear Comeback

Wired, September 24

A Rising Mass of Support Could Lead to a U.S. Nuclear Renaissance

Forbes, September 23

How Big Tech Embraces Nuclear Power

Tech Crunch, September 23

5 Reasons Why 2025 Will See a Nuclear Energy Revival

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For Now, There’s Only One Good Way to Power AI

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