NIA's response in support of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Interim Final Rule to update, streamline, and relocate the policies and procedures that are applicable to the use and administration of DOE's other transaction agreements (OTAs), which includes DOE's ability to utilize a performance milestone-based approach to public-private partnerships.
DOE-HQ-2024-0095-0005
The Case for Continued Investment in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
This brief presents the case for continued investment in the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) to ensure the successful deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies. It discusses the many benefits that a successful ARDP brings with it and why continued investment should be prioritized. More specifically, the following topics and benefits are discussed:
- Providing new commercial use cases for advanced nuclear energy
- Creating benefits for other advanced nuclear energy projects
- Accelerating U.S. NRC licensing of advanced nuclear reactors
- Attracting private capital
- Creating high quality jobs both locally and nationally.
This brief was last updated in February 2025.
Methodology Review of the Tennessee Valley Authority Integrated Resource Planning Process
This methodology document is a companion to NIA’s comments on the TVA Draft Integrated Resource Plan. To view this methodology document, click the "Download" button below.
To view NIA's original comments to TVA's Draft Integrated Resource Plan, click the following link: Comments on Tennessee Valley Authority's 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan
Comments on Tennessee Valley Authority's 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan
NIA submitted comments on Tennessee Valley Authority’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan. In these comments, we recommend using updated and publicly available costs, adjusting the availability and construction timeline of SMRs and Generation IV reactors. We also propose alternative timelines and costs that we feel should be used and the justifications for doing so. To view these comments, click the "Download" button below.
These comments were informed by NIA's review of TVA's methodology. This methodology review can be found in a companion document to NIA's comments. To view this companion document, click the following link: Companion Document - Methodology Review of the TVA Integrated Resource Planning Process
Securing America's Energy Future with Domestic Uranium Enrichment
This brief discusses the critical need to increase domestic enrichment capacity to enable the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and reduce U.S. dependency on international entities in the nuclear fuel supply chain. It discusses the funding Congress has provided to the Department of Energy (DOE) to accomplish this goal, and the need for DOE to accelerate its efforts to partner with private industry and implement their HALEU availability program.
In this introduction to Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology, NIA's Dr. Patrick White provides a deep dive into the technical aspects of reactor concepts by discussing main takeaways, reactor characteristics that can help differentiate between advantages and challenges of advanced reactor technologies by examining the different types of designs.
on January 9, NIA's Judi Greenwald participated in U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur and Climate Governance Malaysia's webinar "Where Does Nuclear Energy Fit in the Energy Transition?" This session highlighted breakthrough innovations in reactor designs, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced fission systems, emphasizing their potential for enhanced safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Comprehensive Risk Metrics for Nuclear Reactor Regulation
This NIA paper by Research Director Dr. Patrick White describes progress by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff to develop the proposed 10 CFR Part 53 regulatory framework, how the NRC staff and the Commission have incorporated the concept of risk metrics in the proposed rule, the history of risk metrics used by the NRC as a part of licensing activities, the proposed use of a comprehensive risk metric to support technology-inclusive, risk-informed and performance-based (TI-RIPB) regulation in Part 53, and key considerations for the development and implementation of comprehensive risk metric requirements and guidance for NRC staff and prospective applicants. Derivations for the numerical values for the existing NRC’s risk metrics (quantitative health objectives and light water reactor surrogate risk objectives) are provided to highlight significant conservatisms and assumptions in the existing surrogate risk objectives.
Summary for Policymakers | From Reactors to Repositories: Disposal Pathways for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Waste
This summary for policymakers provides the high-level takeaways and insights from the NIA report "From Reactors to Repositories: Disposal Pathways for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Waste" which characterizes the various waste streams that are generated by advanced nuclear reactors and examines both interim storage and permanent disposal pathways.
To view the full report, click here. To view the webinar that was hosted for the release of this event, click here.
From Reactors to Repositories: Disposal Pathways for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Waste
As the global demand for clean firm energy grows, advanced nuclear energy technologies are gaining significant attention and efforts to deploy them are underway. These advanced reactors offer numerous improvements in safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility largely due to the innovative fuel forms and coolants utilized in their design. These advanced reactors will also introduce new nuclear waste streams that can differ significantly from those generated by conventional reactors, depending on the specific reactor design. With new reactors come new waste forms.
This report characterizes the various waste streams that are generated by advanced nuclear reactors and examines both interim storage and permanent disposal pathways. Chapter 1 presents an introduction on the importance of understanding nuclear waste management to ensure successful deployment. Chapter 2 provides background information on nuclear waste, how nuclear waste is classified, and the potential disposal pathways for nuclear waste. Chapter 3 characterizes the various waste streams produced by advanced reactors. Chapter 4 discusses interim storage strategies being considered for advanced reactor wastes. Chapter 5 addresses permanent disposal pathways for advanced reactor wastes.
To view this report's Summary for Policymakers, click here. To view the webinar that was hosted for the release of this event, click here.