Greetings Grecia!

We're happy to be back for our readers! In this week’s issue, we analyze how the U.S. and its major competitors have responded to the commitment made at COP 28 to triple nuclear energy by 2050. And we propose that the U.S. create a comprehensive strategy for success in this process. We spotlight the American Nuclear Society’s open letter responding to a Science magazine article’s proposal for the United States to reassess high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and reduce its commercial use in advanced reactor designs. 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.

https://www.powermag.com/russia-plan-calls-for-34-new-nuclear-reactors-by-2042/; https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/China-approves-11-new-reactors#:~:text=China's%20State%20Council%20has%20approved,a%20total%20of%2011%20reactors; https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.

At the Dubai climate change meeting in November 2023, almost a dozen countries agreed to triple the deployment of nuclear energy by 2050. The U.S. supported that commitment, China eventually did, and Russia remained silent.

Ten months later, China has approved 11 new reactors, Russia is proposing 34 new units by 2042, and the U.S. has announced no plans for additional reactor construction. For the previous period of 2019-2023, China approved “six, four, five, 10, and 10” new reactors in those respective years.

Despite the Secretary of Energy calling for the addition of “200 more megawatts by 2050” of nuclear energy when visiting the newly completed Vogtle plant in May, the U.S. at the moment is not on track to deploy any new reactors in the foreseeable future.

American allies that are party to the Dubai declaration, however, are moving forward. South Korea, has approved two new reactors, France and the U.K. are also accelerating new reactor construction. And nations in Central and Eastern Europe are planning to initiate or expand their nuclear energy capacity, including Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Hungary.

Still, since the COP, there have been important victories for the U.S.

Poland has chosen the Westinghouse Electric Company to build its first three nuclear power plants, the company’s AP-1000 reactors are under construction in China, and it is in competition for reactor contracts in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as potentially the Ukraine and U.K. Westinghouse also is producing VVER reactor fuel to replace reliance on Russia.

The U.S. also is supporting its existing domestic reactor fleet, which currently is the largest fleet in the world. This includes the preservation of the slated-to-be-closed Diablo Canyon reactor in California and the resuscitation of the mothballed Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan. There also is discussion of reopening Three Mile Island to power data centers.

Further, U.S. is pouring billions into the development and demonstration of next-generation smaller nuclear reactors to serve energy and industrial needs around the world. And it has restarted uranium enrichment to produce HALEU to fuel these reactors.

But the country is facing some significant headwinds that are hindering progress. A major change will be the installation of a new government administration in January 2025. There is the real possibility of frozen or uncertain policy direction depending on who is elected. And delays are certain as new top-level personnel are selected and vetted.

The Harris nuclear energy policy is not clear. She cast the deciding vote in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act, that included billions of dollars for nuclear energy. But, as a candidate, she has not spoken specifically about the role of nuclear power for energy production or carbon reduction.

The Trump nuclear energy policy is clear. The Republican convention platform stated, that he will, “unleash Energy Production from all sources, including nuclear.” But the Trump approach to alliance management could impede nuclear construction overseas, and supply chain development at home, particularly in projects where the U.S. and South Korea are interdependent.

A dispute that originated during the Trump administration over whether Westinghouse intellectual property resides in the Korean APR-1400 reactor continues to simmer. This, at the very least, is impacting the ability to construct two new Korean reactors in the Czech Republic.

The U.S. next-generation reactor initiative also is encountering setbacks in the real world, offsetting the happy talk epitomized by, “pictures of people in business suits shaking hands in front of a camera, flags in the background, and announcements of promises to study deployment.”

Progress is proceeding with the development of these reactors, commitments are being made dependent on demonstration and licensing, and sites are being cleared for deployment.

But there is an undercurrent of concern about the pace of progress and whether these reactors will really be ready by the early 2030s. There are questions about the efficiency of the licensing process and what setbacks will be encountered when new technologies are demonstrated.

Then there are questions about what markets and nations are ready to operate these advanced technologies and whether the U.S. can counter the tantalizing technological-financial offerings of Russia and China and build a reactor “order book.”

At the root of the challenges facing America’s objective of expanding nuclear energy at home and abroad is the lack of a cohesive strategy for how to achieve the goal. Creating this plan is essential for success.

Now that the government has handed out its legislative and financial goodies to spark nuclear power advancement, it can’t be content to just hand off the hard work of market capture and reactor deployment and to the U.S. commercial nuclear industry. That is not a winning plan, and it won’t work. The low hanging fruit won’t last and prevailing in the tougher markets where countries have financial, governance, or political challenges, requires a strong commercial-government partnership.

If the U.S. is really serious about achieving even a small percentage of the nuclear growth proposed in Dubai, and beating out Russia and China while doing it, it is going to need a detailed private-public technology, financing, market, and geopolitical strategy to make it a reality.

Without that roadmap, the ability to deploy American nuclear power to address multiple challenges in this century, at home and abroad, will be lost and likely for good.

Ken Luongo, President, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

The American Nuclear Society (ANS) issued an open letter to Science magazine, responding to a June article that advocated for the U.S. to reassess the nuclear weapons potential of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and restrict its commercial use in advanced reactor designs. ANS argued that the article’s claims were unscientific and alarmist, asserting that the proliferation risks associated with HALEU can be managed effectively through existing international frameworks. They rejected the idea of the U.S. unilaterally lowering the proliferation sensitive enrichment threshold for uranium fuel, emphasizing that such a move would undermine decades of global cooperation on nonproliferation and disrupt international consensus.

The letter also highlighted the effectiveness of safeguards, pointing out that HALEU-fueled reactors have operated safely for over 60 years without diversion or misuse, with oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). ANS further criticized the article’s definition of “weapons-usable” material, explaining that the technical challenges of weaponizing HALEU, especially from advanced reactor fuels, make such risks highly complex and often impractical. Additionally, the ANS found the use of outdated Manhattan Project-era formulas in the article to be misguided, emphasizing the need for a more modern understanding of nuclear risks.

Emily Day, Della Ratt, Partnership for Global Security

The IAEA issued a report warning that the situation at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant remains "precarious and very fragile" amid ongoing conflict. The report’s release came during a visit to the plant by agency head Rafael Grossi, who last week announced that one of the site’s cooling towers would likely have to be demolished following a fire that ravaged it last month. Grossi noted that the IAEA’s “comprehensive assistance” to Ukraine has included 59 deliveries of nuclear safety equipment, valued at over $11 million, and the agency has conducted 139 support and assistance missions to nuclear sites across the country.

The IAEA has called for maximum restraint from all sides following a drone strike near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. An explosive device detonated just outside the plant's protected area, close to critical infrastructure, though no casualties or damage to plant equipment were reported. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi expressed growing concern over escalating nuclear safety risks amid ongoing military activity near the facility, emphasizing the vulnerability of nuclear plants in conflict zones and the need for strict adherence to safety protocols.

Ukraine is advancing plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in aging Russian-made nuclear reactors. The government aims to expand the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power station by acquiring two VVER-1000 reactors from Bulgaria, which had been put aside after Bulgaria's deployment plans fell through. Russia will earn revenue from the sale, and Bulgaria has since partnered with U.S. firm Westinghouse for its own nuclear expansion. Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including geothermal plants and grid transformers, has been severely damaged by Russian missile and drone attacks, leading to significant electricity imports from the EU to cover the shortfall.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently visited Russia’s Kursk nuclear plant, following an August 6 cross-border incursion by Ukrainian troops. Grossi warned that the Kursk nuclear plant in western Russia is highly vulnerable to attack due to the lack of a protective dome, leaving its reactor core exposed. He emphasized that the facility’s RBMK design, similar to Chernobyl, is especially fragile in the face of artillery, drones, or missile strikes. He expressed grave concerns over the potential for a serious nuclear incident, given the plant's proximity to ongoing military conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The United States and Singapore signed a 123 Agreement, to establish a framework for peaceful nuclear collaboration. The agreement aims to help Singapore make informed decisions about adopting nuclear energy as part of its clean energy transition, while maintaining a commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. Although Singapore currently has no nuclear facilities, it plans to build a pool of experts and explore nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, to achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told Reuters that South Korea is confident it can overcome obstacles to its multi-billion dollar project to build a nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, despite appeals against the deal launched by Électricité de France (EDF) and Westinghouse. In response to questions ahead of his visit to the Czech Republic, Yoon said the trip was partly aimed at ensuring the final contract was concluded. The Czech Republic picked Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) in July to build two new nuclear power units, but EDF and Westinghouse have both appealed the decision. Also, Westinghouse and Korea’s KHNP and KEPCO continue their dispute over whether export controlled intellectual property is in the Korean reactor design.

The opening of Turkey’s Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed due to Germany's Siemens Energy withholding critical parts, likely due to sanctions on Russia, prompting Turkey to consider fines against Siemens over the delay. Siemens stated that some parts were not delivered due to German export regulations. In response, Russia’s Rosatom has sourced replacement parts from China. Turkey’s first reactor at Akkuyu is now expected to launch in 2025 with the remaining reactors coming online by the end of 2028.

The Czech Republic has chosen British firm Rolls-Royce for its proposed small modular reactor (SMR) program. The government will now carry out a safety assessment of Rolls-Royce’s SMR technology to ensure that it complies with the state’s security requirements. The first SMR is planned at a site near the existing Temelin Nuclear Power Plant in the 2030s. The Czech utility CEZ also is looking at other sites suitable for SMRs, including Tušimice and Detmarovice, where survey and monitoring work is taking place.

GE Hitachi has signed a memoranda of understanding (MoU) with Aecon, AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs, and Laing O’Rourke as part of its preparations for the United Kingdom’s ongoing small modular reactor selection contest. GE Hitachi has worked with Aecon and AtkinsRéalis on an SMR project in Canada, with the MoU is intended to leverage lessons from that project. GE Hitachi said its agreement with Jacobs will facilitate best-in-class design capabilities tailored to the U.K.’s environment, and the one with Laing O’Rourke will see both sides draw on their knowledge of modern methods of construction.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and India's Nuclear Power Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the maintenance and operations of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. The deal was formalized during a two-day visit by Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to India. This agreement strengthens nuclear cooperation between the UAE and India, enhancing collaboration in nuclear energy development.

Nigeria and China have signed a new nuclear energy partnership aimed at strengthening ties and advancing Nigeria's energy infrastructure. The agreement, made during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, also includes collaboration on the Belt and Road Initiative and human resource development. This partnership is expected to enhance stability and growth in West Africa. China is already heavily invested in Nigeria's infrastructure through projects including rail lines and ports.

​​Norway’s Norsk Kjernekraft has signed an agreement with South Korea’s DL Energy and DL E&C to study the feasibility of building a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at the Mongstad oil refinery, one of Norway's largest emission sites. This collaboration is part of Norway’s broader efforts to meet its climate goals by using nuclear energy to reduce emissions while addressing the region's significant energy needs. The partnership will leverage South Korea's extensive experience in nuclear power construction, with the aim of completing the project by the mid-2030s, contingent on political support.

Finnish utility Fortum has begun using U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric's nuclear fuel at its Loviisa power plant, marking a shift away from Russian fuel dependency. This transition follows concerns over fuel supply disruptions after Finland joined NATO. The first Westinghouse fuel was loaded during the plant's annual outage in August. While Fortum will honor its contracts with Russia's TVEL until 2027 and 2030, the move aligns with broader efforts across the EU to reduce reliance on Russian nuclear fuel.

Westinghouse Electric Company and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed a teaming agreement to pursue nuclear power plant projects in Sweden and Finland, utilizing Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology. This partnership builds on a 2022 strategic agreement between the two companies and comes as Sweden’s state-owned Vattenfall is planning new nuclear projects at the Ringhals plant, aiming for an operational reactor by the early 2030s. Westinghouse has also been exploring nuclear opportunities in Finland and Sweden with Fortum, as part of its broader global strategy to expand AP1000 reactor deployment. The reactor already is operational in China and the state of Georgia.

Ghana signed an agreement with U.S. developer NuScale Power to build its first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) using the company's VOYGR-12 technology. The deal was finalized at a U.S.-Africa nuclear energy summit as Ghana seeks to enhance energy security and decarbonize its power sector. Other global contenders, including companies from France, China, South Korea, and Russia, were also vying for the contract, reflecting the growing interest in nuclear energy across Africa.

Centrus Energy entered a contingent supply commitment with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to support the construction of new uranium enrichment capacity at Centrus’ American Centrifuge Plant in Ohio. Centrus said the purchase commitment from KHNP covers 10 years of deliveries of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to help fuel South Korea’s fleet of reactors. Under its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Centrus has deployed a cascade of 16 advanced centrifuges at its plant in Piketon, and the plant began producing high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) late last year.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) to collaborate on developing Rwanda's nuclear energy ecosystem. This agreement focuses on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors, such as NANO Nuclear's "ZEUS" and "ODIN," while also fostering educational, regulatory, and infrastructure development in Rwanda. The partnership highlights Rwanda's commitment to integrating innovative technologies for energy development and aims to position the country as a leader in advanced nuclear energy in Africa.

The United Kingdom approved Westinghouse Electric's AP300 small modular reactor (SMR) for entry into its Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process. The GDA was launched by the British government to support nuclear new builds including small reactors up to 300 MW. The AP300 SMR is based on the Westinghouse Gen III+ AP1000 technology. Westinghouse proposes to build four AP300 SMRs in north-east England, leveraging its existing nuclear manufacturing experience at its Lancashire site to expedite the project.

Russia’s government released a draft plan for public consultation that calls for building as many as 34 new nuclear power units by 2042, including a mix of large and small reactors. The new proposal includes four VVER-TOI units due to be commissioned at the Kursk II Nuclear Power Plant between 2025 and 2034, three VVER-S/600 units at the Kola Nuclear Power Plant between 2035 and 2040, and other nuclear units to be built at the Smolensk, South Ural, Krasnoyarsk, and Seversk nuclear sites. The draft will be open for consultation until September 20 and, following any revisions, will be submitted to the government with Rosatom anticipating signing to take place this December.

China’s State Council has approved five nuclear power projects with a total of 11 new reactors at the following sites: Xuwei, Lufeng, Zhaoyuan, San’ao, and Bailong. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said Phase 1 of the Xuwei plant will be the world’s first to couple high-temperature gas-cooled reactors with a pressurized water reactor, with the facility mainly supplying industrial heating as well as electricity. China currently has 56 operable reactors with a total capacity of 54.3 gigawatts, with China approving the construction of 35 new nuclear reactors between 2019 and 2023.

Italy is considering the creation of a new company to build small modular reactors. Officials are in preliminary talks with state-backed Ansaldo Nucleare SpA, Enel, and the United Kingdom-based Newcleo to develop the plans. This move comes after Italy’s energy minister disclosed plans to draft rules to allow for the use of new nuclear power technologies by 2035. If the parliament approves the draft legislation in 2025, it could potentially reverse the country’s current ban on nuclear power production. Additionally, Italian utility Edison plans to build its first 340 megawatt small modular reactor (SMR) by 2035, with a similar sized unit in the pipeline by 2040.

South Korea’s Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has approved the construction of two nuclear reactors at the Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant. South Korea expects to complete building the Shin Hanul 3 and 4 units by 2032 and 2033 respectively, with each unit having a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts. South Korea is in the midst of a nuclear energy renaissance under President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose government is aiming for nuclear energy to account for 36% of its total power generation by 2038.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power’s (KHNP) has approved the decision to invest $40 million in the U.S. small modular reactor company TerraPower. KHNP will pay the amount to SK Group to acquire a 16% stake in a special purpose company created by the Korean conglomerate for investment in TerraPower. Once finalized, KHNP will be the first Korean public energy corporation to invest in an SMR company.

Vietnam is considering resuming plans to develop nuclear power to ensure national energy security. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will conduct research on the nuclear power development experience of other countries and make a proposal to develop nuclear power in Vietnam. Vietnam had previously approved plans to develop its first two nuclear power plants in 2009, but the plans were shelved in 2016 following budget constraints and the Fukushima nuclear accident. Officials have previously discussed possible support from Russia, South Korea, Canada, and others on the construction of small reactors.

India’s government approved the creation of a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to construct, own, and operate nuclear power plants in India. The joint venture is named Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd. (Ashvini), and the Indian government subsequently approved the transfer of a project to build four pressurized heavy-water reactors at the Mahi Banswara site to Ashvini. India is looking to expand its nuclear energy capacity, and recently planned to invite private firms to invest some $26 billion in the nuclear energy sector.

Saudi Arabia is planning to switch from IAEA monitoring of its nuclear facilities under the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) to standard safeguards. According to Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia is working with the IAEA to finalize all necessary subsidiary agreements for the SQP to be rescinded by the end of the year. Saudi Arabia is developing a nuclear energy program that may eventually include activities such as proliferation-sensitive uranium enrichment.

The Swedish government is proposing investments of over $97 million in 2025 to expand fossil-free electricity production, including an expanded investment in pilot and demonstration projects in the area of nuclear power and in streamlining the permitting process for new reactors. The government added that Sweden needs nuclear energy to help it meet future electricity needs and to increase security of supply in the electricity system, stating, “The government’s work to enable the expansion of new nuclear power is now entering a more intensive phase.”

Uzbekistan’s UzAtom Directorate for Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant signed the  protocol with JSC Atomstroyexport which will allow for work to begin at the site of its first nuclear power plant. Atomstroyexport official Pavel Bezrukov said the protocol confirms the fulfillment of the priority conditions in terms of regulatory and financial obligations of both parties. This agreement follows the signature of a contract for a six-unit small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear plant to be built in the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan, which will utilize Russia’s RITM-200N SMR.

Poland will send a request for European Commission approval of a plan to finance its first nuclear power plant. Polish deputy finance minister Maciej Bando said that he expects Poland’s request for public aid to be cleared by the European Union by the middle of next year. Poland has chosen Westinghouse Electric Company to build its first nuclear power plants at a cost of about $40 billion. The European Commission now must determine whether Poland’s request for financial aid complies with EU rules on fair competition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is considering whether to initiate restrictions on exports of raw materials, such as uranium, in response to sanctions limiting the imports of certain goods. In the Kremlin’s official report on a recent online government meeting, Putin noted efforts by some countries to restrict Russia’s access to certain goods and considered whether to respond in kind by restricting exports of uranium to these countries. According to the World Nuclear Association figures on uranium supply in 2021, Russia had about 8% of the world’s reasonably assured uranium resources, as well as a 45% share of global enrichment capacity.

The Japanese government agreed to take several steps to secure local consent for restarting Tepco’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, including reinforcing evacuation measures in the area. Several ministers held a meeting and agreed to establish a new framework aimed at bringing the plant online, which will involve the industry and land ministers and the Cabinet Office working with Niigata Prefecture to discuss the details of measures and how to implement them. The meeting also supervised Tepco’s setting up a framework to strengthen governance of the plant.

The IAEA published its latest edition of the Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period Up to 2050, raising its forecast of global nuclear energy capacity growth, with the high case scenario projecting a 2 ½ times increase from 372 gigawatts electrical (GWe) in 2023 to 950 GWe in 2050. The publication also includes a low case scenario, which still forecasts a 40% increase in nuclear capacity to 514 GWe in 2050. This is the fourth successive year that the projected growth has been increased in both projections, with a growing share of projected nuclear capacity coming from small modular reactors (SMR).

Ten industry associations have issued a communiqué calling on all OECD member states to set out clear plans for nuclear energy deployment. Released during the first day of the Roadmaps to New Nuclear conference in Paris, the document states that meeting a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050 will require significant expansion in access to financing, strengthening of supply chains, and supportive policies and regulations to enable rapid scaling of nuclear energy generation. The association also highlighted eight key areas in which governments must take action in order to achieve the 2050 target.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) gathered about 80 experts at its headquarters in Paris for a conference focused on expanding the role of nuclear power in secure energy transitions and in tackling climate change. Conference participants discussed the impediments to nuclear deployment such as lagging investments, rising costs, and construction risks, as well as discussing possible solutions such as mechanisms for managing and reducing project risks. Since the beginning of the ongoing global energy crisis, countries around the world have shown renewed interest in nuclear power.

The World Nuclear Association held its annual World Nuclear Symposium in London, bringing together over 800 delegates both within and outside of the nuclear energy sector.  WNA Director, Sama Bilbao y León, stated that the nuclear industry is at a pivotal moment and needs to capitalize on the growing momentum behind nuclear power. Among the high-profile announcements made at the conference included Barakah Unit 4 in the United Arab Emirates entering commercial operation, Orano announcing Oak Ridge as a preferred site to build a multi-billion-dollar U.S. uranium enrichment plant, and Westinghouse launching its Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) System Hive.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. power consumption is on track to rise to new records in 2024 and 2025. With growing power demand from data centers, manufacturing, and the electrification of transportation and buildings, the EIA projects power demand will rise to 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity in 2024 and 4.185 trillion kWh in 2025. The percentage of renewable energy will rise from 21% currently to 23% in 2024 and 25% in 2025, while nuclear power’s share is projected to hold at 19% in both 2024 and 2025. Solar power made up nearly 60% of all U.S. power generating capacity added in the first half of 2024.

The U.S. government is reportedly probing whether China is supporting Russia’s nuclear industry by importing enriched uranium from its neighbor and exporting its own production to the United States. The Department of Energy and other agencies are closely tracking imports from China to ensure the proper implementation of the recently enacted Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act. According to data published by the World Bank, China’s imports of Russian enriched uranium soared in 2022 and 2023, which could undermine the U.S. effort to eliminate its dependence on Russian nuclear fuel.

The Biden administration has nominated Matthew Marzano to become a commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). His nomination is currently being deliberated on by the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), which asked Marzano about his top priorities, how his experience would influence him as a commissioner, and his opinion on recent legislative efforts to eliminate some mandatory hearings currently built into the licensing process. A committee vote is expected to take place on September 23, after which the U.S. Senate will look to vote before the end of the year to confirm his appointment.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stated that inspections found issues at the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Michigan that Holtec is seeking to restart. Preliminary results identified a large number of steam generator tubes that require further analysis with the NRC stating that more testing and repairs would occur over the next few months. Holtec received a $1.52 billion conditional loan from the U.S. Loan Programs Office to reopen the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant after a two-year closure.

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant restart effort has secured another round of public subsidies, with two rural electric cooperatives set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars to buy power from the facility. The Department of Agriculture granted financial awards to Wolverine Power Cooperative and Hoosier Energy from the Empowering Rural America program. Holtec Energy has submitted restart applications for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant to federal nuclear regulators, who say they plan to make a decision by mid-2025.

Westinghouse Electric Company completed the front-end engineering and experiment design (FEEED) phase to test a prototype of its eVinci microreactor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The FEEED process is intended to support developers in design and planning for the fabrication, construction, and potential testing of fueled reactor experiments at INL’s DOME test bed. Westinghouse will continue to work with the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) to finalize the design and planning for the eVinci experiment, as well as secure long-lead procurement items in preparation for potential installment at the DOME.

Two men have been charged with illegal smuggling and conspiring to violate export controls by selling equipment to Russia’s nuclear energy industry. From 2015 to 2021, prosecutors allege that Sam Bhambani and Maxim Teslenko conspired to export laser welding machines to the Ural Electromechanical Plant (UEMZ), a subsidiary of Rosatom. The export documents were allegedly falsified to conceal the fact that the equipment was going to UEMZ.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations governing the licensing of non-power production or utilization facilities (NPUF) in order to make license renewal criteria more consistent with the limited risk such facilities pose to public safety. NRC commissioners approved a final rule that will eliminate license terms for research reactors and medical therapy facilities, meaning that they will no longer need to apply for renewed licenses to continue operating. The NRC currently licenses 28 operating research reactors that fall under this category.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the city of Oak Ridge announced new details about “Project IKE”, a new nuclear energy project boosted by the $60 million Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund. The primary announcement was that Orano USA has agreed to build a uranium enrichment centrifuge facility at the Oak Ridge nuclear facility. Tennessee has made numerous moves to increase its nuclear energy capacity, including Kairos Power beginning the construction of a next-generation TRISO-X demonstration reactor in August.

U.S. nuclear reactor developer Aalo Atomics is partnering with Idaho Falls Power to deploy seven factory-built Aalo-1 microreactors that will generate 75 megawatts of electricity total. The Aalo microreactors will be constructed at the company’s headquarters in Texas and will subsequently deliver nuclear power to the city of Idaho Falls and surrounding municipalities. The reactors could be the first factory-built commercial microreactors in the United States.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a license to Abilene Christian University for the construction of a molten salt reactor on its campus. Abilene Christian’s molten salt research reactor will be the first deployment of the Natura MSR-1 and will be used for on-campus nuclear research and training opportunities for faculty, staff, and students in advanced nuclear technologies. This marks the first construction permit for a liquid-fueled advanced reactor and only the second for any advanced reactor issued by the NRC.

Terrestrial Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Numerical Advisory Solutions (NAS) to further collaborate on site evaluation, plant development, and project deployment for its Integrated Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). The MoU expands the relationship to a strategic collaboration, which leverages NAS’s relationships in the industrial sector to accelerate development and deployment of the IMSR. The IMSR is a small modular molten salt fueled reactor, and Terrestrial is developing a two-unit configuration which can deliver 390 megawatts of electricity (MWe).

Fund managers are increasingly betting that nuclear energy is set to make a comeback. Robeco Institutional Asset Management, JO Hambo Capital Management, and Janus Henderson Investors are among the firms that see a role for stocks exposed to nuclear energy in their portfolios, seeing that nuclear energy is now an indispensable part of eliminating green-house gas emissions. Blackrock Investment Institute and other asset managers also believe that nuclear energy will be a crucial contributor to the continued growth of artificial intelligence.

The Brattle Group prepared a draft report for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority stating that advanced nuclear reactors could offer attractive possibilities for New York and present an opportunity for additional grid capacity. At the same time, the report acknowledged that advanced nuclear technologies raise a host of questions that would have to be addressed, including technological readiness, costs and cost risks, and environmental justice. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act directs the New York Public Service Commission to ensure the state’s electrical system is zero emissions by 2040.

The Department of Energy published a report, “Evaluation of Nuclear Power Plant and Coal Power Plant Sites for New Nuclear Capacity”. The report found the nuclear and coal power plant sites examined could propose up to 269 gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity using both large light-water reactor and smaller advanced reactor technology, significantly more than the approximately 200 gigawatts of advanced nuclear capacity envisioned by the DoE’s previous advanced nuclear liftoff report, and 33 partially or fully operational coal power plant sites would be potentially suitable for nuclear conversion. Additionally, the report notes that companies were previously engaged with the government to obtain licenses to construct 17 new reactors at 12 suitable sites, increasing confidence that these sites would be potentially suitable to host new reactors.

The annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report stated that the Russian and Western nuclear industries remain dependent on each other, effectively shielding Russia from European sanctions. According to the report, several European Union countries stockpiled Russian fuel over the course of 2023, which has driven up imports despite European efforts to diminish their dependence on Russian nuclear fuel. The status report also acknowledges that efforts to reduce or eliminate the West’s dependence on Russian nuclear fuel will likely increase costs.

The United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) published a trilateral report, Considerations for Developing Artificial Intelligence Systems in Nuclear Applications. The paper describes principles that all participants in the AI lifecycle should consider, including developers, licensees, and regulators. Among the topics addressed in the report include common areas of focus for regulators when approaching AI, integrating AI into existing nuclear systems, managing the AI lifecycle from design to deployment, and considerations for safety cases for AI in nuclear applications.

Westinghouse Electric and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released a comprehensive study highlighting the economic benefits of deploying 3 gigawatts of nuclear power through a fleet of Westinghouse AP300 small modular reactors (SMR) in the Czech Republic. The report estimates the manufacturing, engineering, and construction phase of the AP300 SMR reactor program to generate approximately €11.6 billion ($12.9 billion) in gross domestic product (GDP) for the Czech Republic, along with 80,000 person-years of employment. Once operational, the AP300 SMR program would generate around €3.7 billion ($4.1 billion) in GDP and support a total of 8,500 jobs annually. 

The US Led on Nuclear Fusion for Decades. Now China Is In Position to Win the Race.

CNN, September 19

The Coming Nuclear Space Race

Real Clear Energy, September 17

How End-Users Can Help Drive Nuclear New-Build

World Nuclear News, September 16

Will Saudi Nuclear Reactors Power Its AI Ambitions?

Neutron Bytes, September 14

What Are the Fuel Cycle Challenges of Tripling Nuclear Capacity?

World Nuclear News, September 13

A Nuclear Energy Renaissance?

Brookings Institute, September 12

China Is Beating America in the Nuclear-Energy Race

The Economist, September 12

The Case for Public Nuclear Power

The Nation, September 12

Why Many Environmentalists Are Warming to Nuclear Power

Utility Dive, September 11

Nuclear Energy in Saudi Arabia Can Address Power Needs of AI

Arab News, September 10

As Demand Rises, Re-Thinking Nuclear Siting May Be Key

Power Engineering, September 10

Small Nuclear Reactors Could Power the Future – The Challenge is Building the First One in the U.S.

CNBC, September 7

Get Ready for the New Nuclear Age. It Could Help Solve America’s Electricity Problems

Barron’s, September 6

Why It’s So Difficult to Build Nuclear Power Plants in the U.S.

CNBC, September 6

Why Nuclear-Powered Commercial Ships Are a Bad Idea

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September 5