August 27, 2015 Proponents of small modular reactors (SMRs) claim that they can improve the economics of nuclear power by reducing upfront capital costs, decrease times for reactor construction, and expand possibilities for siting and locating nuclear plants. SMRs can theoretically be mass produced in factory settings, and have much smaller footprints than conventional light

July 31, 2015 Decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) should be conducted in a manner consistent with placing utmost priority on the safety of workers, the public, and the environment. Perhaps the major cost driver for D&D activities is the volume of material that needs to be disposed of as radioactive waste; thus, reduction of this volume

International Fast Reactor R&D Cooperation: Advantages, Challenges, and Possible Roadmaps June 25, 2015 Fast neutron reactor technology has received significant interest from numerous nuclear power countries given its inherent advantages in terms of safety, sustainability, and uranium utilization. Collaboration in fast reactor RD&D, particularly in bilateral or multilateral arrangements, present opportunities to address both policy

Sustainable Nuclear Energy for the Future: Improving Safety, Economics, and Waste Management May 28, 2015 Although today's commercial light water reactor technology will be the cornerstone of the nuclear power industry in the upcoming decades, Generation IV technologies have the potential to significantly push the envelope on passive safety, resource utilization, and fuel cycle optimization.

April 30, 2015 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to finalize rules for its Clean Power Plan, governing new and existing sources under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act. EPA plans to set standards, regulations, and guidelines to address carbon pollution from power plants. Although U.S. nuclear power plants provide 63% of U.S.

March 26, 2015 Although the Gyeongju Low-to-Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) Repository has been cleared to begin operations, the path towards siting and establishing the repository was tortuous and fraught with numerous difficulties. Although the Korean government took various approaches towards repository siting, including basing siting decisions solely on geological and technical factors, targeting remote and

Realities of Today’s Civil Nuclear World: The Significance of International Partnerships March 11, 2015 The continued expansion of nuclear power worldwide, particularly in various countries throughout Asia, has presented new opportunities in the international nuclear market. However, the US nuclear industry presently faces considerable challenges that have the potential to impact its ability to compete

January 22, 2015 Nuclear power is the largest carbon-free energy source in the US, with a steady and predictable cost of electricity that is not subject to fluctuations as with conventional fossil fuels. Although the US remains the largest producer of nuclear generated electricity in the world, the future of American nuclear power faces many