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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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May 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
Executive Session|Panel
Wednesday, November 16, 2022|8:00–9:45AM MST|Eucalyptus
Session Chair:
Valérie Faudon (ENS/SFEN)
Session Organizer:
Luc Van Den Durpel (ENS/Nuclear-21)
The European Union, consisting of 27 European member states, plays a leading role in global efforts for carbon neutrality by 2050. Nuclear power has been clearly highlighted by the European Commission as a backbone of a carbon-free European power system in its strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive, and climate-neutral economy. [1]
Within the coming decades, several European countries plan to build up to 29 new reactors as an integral part of their energy and, at the same time, decarbonization strategies.
In addition, developing SMRs in Europe and hydrogen technology are seen by the European institutions as parallel technologies to fulfill the high ambitions of the EU climate and energy policy. Private and public institutions are investing in technological innovation and looking into potential deployment.
The recent inclusion of sustainable nuclear into the EU Taxonomy will open new financial opportunities for the sector.
Significant progress has also been made in safely disposing of very low-level and low-level waste in the EU, and so far, Finland, France, and Sweden have selected sites for the deep geological disposal of intermediate and high-level waste from civilian facilities. They will likely open the first repositories for these kinds of waste between 2024 and 2035.
The recent geopolitical situation brought up many concerns related to EU security of energy supply and sparked discussions on what partnerships are necessary to overcome upcoming challenges.
The plenary session will offer an overview of the current EU energy sector developments and opportunities for international collaboration.
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