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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 9–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
IAEA again raises global nuclear power projections
Noting recent momentum behind nuclear power, the International Atomic Energy Agency has revised up its projections for the expansion of nuclear power, estimating that global nuclear operational capacity will more than double by 2050—reaching 2.6 times the 2024 level—with small modular reactors expected to play a pivotal role in this high-case scenario.
IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi announced the new projections, contained in the annual report Energy, Electricity, and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050 at the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
In the report’s high-case scenario, nuclear electrical generating capacity is projected to increase to from 377 GW at the end of 2024 to 992 GW by 2050. In a low-case scenario, capacity rises 50 percent, compared with 2024, to 561 GW. SMRs are projected to account for 24 percent of the new capacity added in the high case and for 5 percent in the low case.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by RPD
Wednesday, November 20, 2024|10:00–11:45AM EST|Canaveral 3
Session Chair:
Pavel V. Tsvetkov (TAMU)
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Zeyun Wu
A number of research reactors, test reactors, and facilities are in operation or are being developed and built. They support important R&D programs towards current and future developments. Many of these facilities are at university campuses, serving as both educational and R&D instruments. Although the design space of research facilities is dominated by light water systems, interest is growing in expanding research capabilities towards advanced research reactors. Universities are exploring pathways to bring either advanced research reactors or advanced irradiation capabilities to their campuses. Recently, Abilene Christian University received a construction permit approval to bring Natura Resources MSR-1 as the university advanced research reactor. This panel, composed of university community experts, will discuss ongoing and planned efforts involving research reactors, test reactors, and research facilities focusing on the significant opportunities offered by these systems in support of advanced reactor R&D. Economics, deployment, and licensing related to having such facilities on university campuses will be taken into discussion.
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