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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Technical Session|Global Utilization of Nuclear Energy
Thursday, August 20, 2026|9:00–10:45AM CDT|Promenade Ballroom C
Session Chair:
J'Tia Hart (INL)
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Modeling HALEU Market Challenges and Development
9:00–9:20AM CDT
Scott Richards (ANL), Dylan McDowell, Cihang Lu (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Jason K. Hansen
Paper
Demonstrating Fuel Cycle Economics Capabilities in CYCLUS: The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Simulator
9:20–9:40AM CDT
Dean Krueger (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Paul P. Wilson (University of Wisconsin Madison)
Advancing Small Modular Reactor Supply Chains for a Resilient and Abundant Energy Future
9:40–10:00AM CDT
J Michael Grappone (LLNL), Jacob Eaton (LLNL), Saul Schaffer (LLNL), Javier Bejarano (LLNL), Jean-Paul Watson (LLNL)
Nuclear-Grade AI Automation Improves Review Efficiency and Accuracy in Supply Chain Operations
10:00–10:20AM CDT
Sanchari Banerjee (Blue Wave AI Labs), Gihan J. Mendis (Blue Wave AI Labs), Pete Mrvos (Blue Wave AI Labs), Tom T. Gruenwald (Blue Wave AI Labs)
A techno-economic assessment of fusion energy system supply and waste generation and how fission energy may close operational gaps
10:20–10:40AM CDT
Mackenzie K. Nelson (LLNL), J Michael Grappone
