The following statement may be attributed to Judi Greenwald, President and CEO of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance: Today, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) released a new report, Progress of Early Mover Nuclear Projects: Key Indicators to Watch, by Dr. James Richards. The last decade has seen numerous funding rounds, project announcements, and partnership agreements. With all the fervor, it can be difficult to assess the viability and maturity of individual projects and to evaluate industry progress as a whole. This document discusses several key indicators of progress that stakeholders and investors can use to assess a nuclear project’s likelihood of successful completion. These indicators are:
- Site selection
- Licensing progress
- Offtake agreements
- Project team
- Funding
Successfully navigating these milestones is critical for First-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects, which carry the highest risk but also pave the way to a mature industry. The lessons learned and experience gained from successful FOAK deployment, from licensing efficiencies to supply chain performance, can be replicated to lower the risk and cost of subsequent projects. Ultimately, by applying this disciplined, indicator-based approach, stakeholders can effectively assess the maturity and viability of any nuclear energy project.
To view the full report, click here.
The Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) is a non-profit think-and-do-tank working to create the conditions for success for new nuclear energy so it can play a major role as an energy security and climate solution. Through policy analysis, technical research, and education, we are catalyzing the next era of new nuclear energy. Our organization is funded primarily through charitable grants and philanthropic donations from individuals and organizations concerned about energy security and climate change.