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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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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.
Educational Session|Panel|Plant Reliability
Monday, August 8, 2022|3:30–5:00PM EDT|Banyan 2
Session Chair:
Emmett Wilmes (MPR)
Track Organizer:
Knowledge Manager:
Ashley Bridgmon (Southern Co.)
Plants use many processes to manage and maintain equipment reliability. These process are leveraged by site personnel to identify, prioritize, and address equipment health risks. Challenges abound with these processes, including the amount of time required to populate tools, the number of processes used and their lack integration, and the method by which key information from these processes is packaged for site management. This session will have two main areas of discussion. The first will be a discussion on two innovative ways that Southern Nuclear is improving processes to increase equipment reliability - automated system health reports and an integrated vulnerability management tool. The second will be a panel discussion with several utilities to explore other challenges with equipment reliability processes. Topics will include identifying and leveraging internal OE, corporate governance, oversight, support, perform (GOSP) models, system vulnerability assessments, and long term asset management plans.
Lindy Hughes
SNC
Adam Flora
Duke Energy
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Session Notes