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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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NN Asks: Is the U.S. ready for nuclear construction to accelerate?
Craig Stover
Yes, but . . .
The United States is better positioned today for nuclear construction than it has been in decades. Some of that comes from the experience gained at Vogtle and V.C. Summer. I was part of the team that helped start the V.C. Summer project in 2008, and at that time we were trying to build a nuclear construction workforce from scratch. We learned a lot through that effort, and many of those lessons learned have since been studied, documented, and shared.
The nuclear industry is also benefiting from the wave of investment that started growing around 2020. Over the last five or six years, there has been a serious effort across the country to get ready for new nuclear builds. The U.S. government and the private sector are investing billions of dollars in new nuclear. Much of that work is happening before widespread commercial deployment contracts are signed. This is real, and we need to prepare.
Technical Session|Panel|Panels
Saturday, April 6, 2024|3:15–4:35PM EDT|Hallowell Nuclear Innovation Commons
Session Chair:
Christopher T. Balbier (Penn State)
Session Organizer:
Jonathan B. Balog (Penn State)
Advanced technologies for reactors encompass a diverse range of innovations aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and versatility in nuclear energy production. These include Generation IV reactor designs like molten salt reactors (MSRs), high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), and sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), which offer enhanced fuel utilization, reduced waste, and inherent safety features. Advancements in materials science, digital instrumentation, and control systems, along with artificial intelligence, are further improving reactor performance and reliability. Innovations in fuel cycle technologies, such as advanced reprocessing and closed fuel cycles, aim to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency. However, there are two specific technologies that can help accelerate reactor deployment and enhance operations: digital twins and additive manufacturing. Join our experts as they detail the opportunities and challenges presented by these technologies!
Guha Manogharan
Penn State University - College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Craig Dempsey
Naval Nuclear Laboratory
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Attachment — Advanced Technologies Bios
