Fulfilling the promise of advanced nuclear will, particularly in the U.S.,
require addressing issues of cost competitiveness. A major part of this
challenge is the development of a regulatory framework that allows
certainty and clarity for advanced reactor vendors navigating the
licensing process. Historically, the NRC has employed a prescriptive
approach that has been adapted to the realities of conventional light
water technology. Recent legislation and an emerging advanced nuclear
industry in the U.S. has prompted the NRC, in close communication with
stakeholders, to begin formulating a risk-informed, performance-based, and
technology-inclusive framework that should improve the efficiency of
regulatory reviews of advanced reactor designs. The ultimate objective of
these efforts is facilitating the safe and secure commercialization of
advanced nuclear technologies so that they can meaningfully contribute to
broader goals (decarbonization, energy reliability, U.S. geopolitical
interests) in a timely manner.
