This brief authored by NIA Executive Director Judi Greenwald connects the role of advanced nuclear energy in meeting climate and energy security goals with the urgent need for NRC reform to enable advanced nuclear energy. It outlines the short-, medium- and long-term NRC reforms that are necessary to achieve that goal. It provides recommendations for action by Congress and the NRC and highlights several of NIA's recommendations for improving licensing efficiency. NIA developed this brief to serve as a guide for policymakers, the NRC itself, and key stakeholders in considering and then taking action to ensure the NRC can "become an agile, modern, risk-informed, and performance-based regulator to successfully meet this moment."

This document serves as a high-level introduction to coal repowering with nuclear energy (also known as coal power plant repurposing, or coal-to-nuclear transitions) and a directory of useful resources for those looking to dive deeper into the topics discussed herein. It presents the key concepts, opportunities, and challenges associated with this energy transition, and provides readers with solid foundations and condensed information, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of this subject matter. It is intended for a diverse range of stakeholders interested in exploring coal repowering with nuclear energy, and is meant to foster informed decision-making, strategic planning, and meaningful discussions that contribute to coal repowering efforts. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, researchers, community leaders, potential customers, and interested individuals will find a concise overview of coal repowering to help navigate the multifaceted aspects of this energy transition and the extensive body of literature already available.

In July 2023, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) released two new Deployment Maps that showcase scheduled deployments of North American advanced reactors design across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Alongside the release of the two Deployment Maps, NIA also release an updates of their “Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology: A Company Compendium” and their “Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technology: A Primer”. These releases were accompanied by a Zoom media briefing event. The NIA's new and updated reports provide information, resources and insights into advanced nuclear technology innovation and commercialization. They should serve as resources for investors, reporters, policymakers, regulators and others who want to learn more about advanced nuclear technologies and the key players building this industry.

 
Multiple advanced reactor developers have announced international demonstration projects to be built in the late 2020s and early 2030s. These nuclear reactors will provide the licensing, construction, and operational basis for rapid commercial expansion of advanced nuclear energy globally in the mid-2030s and beyond. Technology, business, and regulatory lessons learned from first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects will facilitate lower costs and shorter construction timelines for subsequent nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) reactors due to wide-scale deployment and technological learning. European and Asian utilities and other customers that gain early experience with FOAK or early NOAK projects will be in competitive positions to become technology leaders. Property of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA). For more information about advanced reactor deployments, please contact vibarrajr@nuclearinnovationalliance.org.