The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has made significant progress in recent years to update the regulations to adapt to the incoming wave of new reactor designs from small modular reactors and microreactors to advanced reactor designs. There are new licensing frameworks being developed to enable the licensing of new reactors to meet demand needs as more and more industries outside of power generation are turning their attention towards nuclear energy as a solution to their energy needs. These industries such as petrochemicals, refineries, data centers, and more are beginning to create a significant demand pull for advanced reactors, as advanced reactors can provide the energy and heat requirements for industrial operations.
