Engineering Programs: Ensuring Reliability and Enabling Innovation

Programs Engineering plays a central role in nuclear utility’s ability to operate plants reliably and consistent with regulatory requirements. However, the importance of these programs and innovation opportunities within them can be overlooked based on factors such as the US nuclear industry’s excellent safety performance over the last 20+ years and lack of historical perspective resulting from a shifting nuclear workforce age demographic. This session will demonstrate why a strong Programs Engineering Organization is critical to plant reliability. The session will provide a historical perspective for many of the programs, why they still matter utilities look to push plant life to 80 or 100 years to bridge the gap to next generation nuclear deployment, and what innovations are occurring within utility programs to enhance plant reliability, reduce costs, and ensure safe, clean energy for decades to come.