Accelerating the Future of Nuclear Power
EPRI Future Nuclear Annual Report
Introduction:
2023 was a year of great success for EPRI’s Future Nuclear department. Focusing on Advanced Nuclear Technology and Fusion, we produced valuable research and made strong connections for the industry including the Advanced Reactor Roadmap for North America, the Fusion Technical Advisory Group, and workshops on Advanced Manufacturing and uses for nuclear power beyond electricity. This document aims to capture our successes and looks at what’s coming next.
As a team, we are focused on the following objectives to deliver value for our members.
Capitalize on successes
Launch key supplementals/ initiatives
Stakeholder engagement
Prioritize work to meet industry needs
Provide the industry with targeted research to help build both the next generation of reactors and make fusion a viable commercial option
Maintain a healthy feedback loop with our members and others in the industry to ensure understanding of their needs and if they are being met
Ensure the work that we do meets the needs of the industry
We will build on our accomplishments, continuing to provide world-class research to our members
Overview:
Future Nuclear encompasses both Advanced Nuclear Technology and Fusion.
The Advanced Nuclear Technology (ANT) program conducts research to minimize deployment and operational risks and uncertainties associated with deploying new nuclear plants. R&D activities evaluate and address the challenges of deploying nuclear power plants of all generational designs, including large light-water reactors and advanced reactor technologies, which encompass light-water small modular reactors, microreactors, and non-water-cooled reactor designs. Our mission is to accelerate the deployment of nuclear power around the world.
member companies including 10 added in 2023
90+
of ongoing projects
Dozens
existing products covering everything from design to construction to operations
200+
Program focus areas:
The reactors of the future will need high quality materials that can withstand the high temperatures and harsh environments that some designs will require. To ensure construction is cost effective and completed on time, the industry will also need to understand and take advantage of advanced manufacturing techniques like electron beam welding, additive manufacturing, and diode laser cladding that are being researched.
Advanced Manufacturing & Materials
Building on the knowledge and experience gained from constructing the current generation of reactors will be important. The goal is to lower costs, increase quality, and shorten build times. Advanced technologies like digital twins are being evaluated for application to plant construction.
Construction Engineering
Retired coal facilities have an abundance of infrastructure that can be repurposed to support a nuclear reactor. Identifying sites suitable for repowering through carbon-free nuclear power is important to realizing carbon reduction goals.
Coal to Nuclear
There’s great potential for the use of nuclear beyond generating electricity. Other uses include desalination, hydrogen production, decarbonizing oil and gas production, district heating, and commercial maritime shipping.
Nuclear Beyond Electricity
Most of the advanced reactor developers are using fuel designs that are different from the current fleet. Developing a fuel cycle that can supply anticipated demand while also anticipating the possibility of reprocessing is important for the industry.
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Advanced reactor designs will require a review of risk analysis methods and tools for their readiness to support design, licensing, construction, and operation.
Risk & Safety Management
Artificial intelligence is opening new arenas for automating systems and controls at nuclear plants. Research in this area will help to enable safer and more efficient nuclear reactors.
Autonomous Operations
Learn more:
ANT YouTube playlist
ANT website
Fusion:
Scientific breakthroughs and a thriving private sector are signaling an environment ripe for innovation to bring fusion energy to reality. Advancements in magnets and other enabling technologies have been made and private sector funding has topped $5 billion. In late 2022, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory demonstrated net scientific energy gain, or more energy released from a fusion reaction than what was used to create the reaction for the first time ever. That has driven interest in fusion’s potential.
EPRI has conducted research on fusion energy technology since the 1970s and has renewed its focus on fusion in response to increasing industry and support. Our focus is on engaging the fusion technology developer community alongside energy providers to identify common research needs and requirements for fusion.
EPRI Fusion Page
Fusion Explainer
Key Projects and Activities: 2023
Future: Look Ahead to 2024 and Beyond
Thank you for your continued support of the Future Nuclear Department. We are proud of the progress we have made this year, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. Our focus on innovation and industry needs has helped us achieve continued growth in the collaborative with over 90 members now part of the ANT program. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of service and products as we continue to enable nuclear as a clean source for societies future power needs. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to another successful year.
Advanced Nuclear Technology:
"We are part of an amazing community in the nuclear industry. Collaborating and engaging with our members allows us to focus on the research that is important to them and that is most impactful for the industry."
Membership In the past two years, we have added 22 new members (including 10 this year) in the Advanced Nuclear Technology area. Interest continues to grow globally, and we expect to expand membership in the coming years. In March, we held our first meetings of the ANT Technology Users Groups, five groups focused on different types of reactor technology.
Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
To address the importance of a robust supply chain for new technologies including advanced nuclear, EPRI hosted its second cross-sector Supply Chain Workshop for Advanced Energy Systems in April. The workshop focused on the industry challenges and opportunities associated with supply chain support for structural components in these systems.
Advanced Reactor Roadmap
In collaboration with the Nuclear Energy Institute, EPRI released the first phase of the Advanced Reactor Roadmap in May, outlining an achievable path forward and the actions necessary for successfully deploying advanced reactors in North America. Roadmaps for other global regions are planned.
Fusion
There has been much excitement about the recent fusion breakthrough and the possibilities it brings. EPRI’s decades-long history of work in this space continues. In May, we hosted a workshop for nearly 200 participants focused on technology readiness in support of a fusion pilot plant. In November, the EPRI Fusion Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was formed to solicit feedback from a core group of members and fusion energy stakeholders to inform EPRI’s research, and we continue to convene the fusion community for bimonthly Fusion Forum meetings.
Coal to Nuclear
Many coal facilities have been decommissioned in recent years with more than 290 GW of retirements expected globally in the next 15 years. Coal plant infrastructure has the ability to be repurposed and in many cases would be a great fit for an SMR or other advanced reactor design. We published a report in October that can help inform stakeholders as they assess former coal sites for this option.
"The energy sources of the future will need materials and components that either don’t exist yet or are complicated to produce at scale. Our work helps to enable a future where there is a robust supply chain for advanced energy systems."
"Fusion power holds tremendous potential for delivering the firm, scalable, carbon-free energy that society requires. Over the past five years, there have been important developments, including technological breakthroughs and private sector investments, that have accompanied an increased focus on commercialization. However, there remain many challenges to be overcome before fusion becomes a practical commercial generation option. EPRI’s collaboration with developers and utilities is intended to enable and accelerate commercial fusion deployment."
"When a coal plant retires there is an opportunity to take advantage of that existing infrastructure and repower the site using a different energy source. Nuclear can be a great fit for this use. Our work helps utilities and other stakeholders to think through the process as they consider replacing the power lost by the plant’s retirement."
Caleb Tomlin
Principal Team Lead CTomlin@epri.com
Andrew Sowder
Senior Technical Executive Asowder@epri.com
Marc Albert
Principal Team Lead MAlbert@epri.com
Craig Stover
Senior Program Manager
CStover@epri.com
"The Advanced Reactor Roadmap represents a significant achievement for the nuclear industry. Identifying the issues preventing the wide-scale adoption of advanced nuclear allows us to work together to find smart solutions to help ensure a carbon-free future."
Chad Boyer
Technical Leader III Cboyer@epri.com
FUTURE NUCLEAR
Intro
Overview
Key Projects
Future
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