Trump leaves space nuclear policy executive order for Biden teamNuclear NewsResearch & ApplicationsJanuary 20, 2021, 3:00PM|Nuclear News StaffA hot fire test of the core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System rocket at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi was not completed as planned. The SLS is the vehicle meant to propel a crewed mission to the moon in 2024. Source: NASA TelevisionAmong the executive orders President Trump issued during his last weeks in office was “Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration,” which builds on the Space Policy Directives published during his term. The order, issued on January 12, calls for actions within the next six months by NASA and the Department of Defense (DOD), together with the Department of Energy and other federal entities. Whether the Biden administration will retain some, all, or none of the specific goals of the Trump administration’s space nuclear policy remains to be seen, but one thing is very clear: If deep space exploration remains a priority, nuclear-powered and -propelled spacecraft will be needed.The prospects for near-term deployment of nuclear propulsion and power systems in space improved during Trump’s presidency. However, Trump left office days after a hot fire test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket did not go as planned. The SLS rocket is meant to propel crewed missions to the moon in 2024 and to enable a series of long-duration lunar missions that could be powered by small lunar reactor installations. The test on January 16 of four engines that were supposed to fire for over eight minutes was automatically aborted after one minute, casting some doubt that a planned November 2021 Artemis I mission can go ahead on schedule.ExpandTags:doddoefission surface powermicroreactorsnasanuclear propulsionpresident trumpsmall modular reactorsspace applicationsspace explorationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Advanced reactors important for carbon-free power production in U.S., tweets Vice NewsANS Nuclear CafeResearch & ApplicationsDecember 15, 2020, 12:13PM|ANS Nuclear CafeA video posted to Twitter by Vice News discusses the prospect of advanced reactors being an important mix of carbon-free power production in the United States. Hosted by Gelareh Darabi, an award-winning Canadian-British-Iranian journalist and documentary filmmaker, the video provides quick and easy statistics for the general audience and pulls from social media influencer I_sodope. It also includes comments from nuclear experts.Go to ArticleTags:advanced reactorscarbon freei_sodopeinternational energy agencysmall modular reactorssmrsviceShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear scores point in U.K. green planNuclear NewsPower & OperationsDecember 1, 2020, 12:03PM|Nuclear News StaffThe United Kingdom, the first of the world’s major economies to adopt a legally binding commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, has released a blueprint to help realize that goal—one that includes a substantial role for nuclear energyThe Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution will mobilize a total of £12 billion (about $16 billion) of government investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly skilled green jobs in the United Kingdom and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030, according to the UK government on November 18.In addition to nuclear, offshore wind, hydrogen production, carbon capture, and vehicle electrification are also earmarked for significant investment in the 38-page document.ExpandTags:advanced nuclearcadoux-hudsonhinkley pointhydrogen productionnet zerosizewellsmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Advanced nuclear to be a focus of reopened Arctic Energy OfficeNuclear NewsPower & OperationsSeptember 29, 2020, 3:00PM|Nuclear News StaffThe Department of Energy has announced the reestablishment of the Arctic Energy Office (AEO), to be located on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The AEO was originally established in 2001 but failed to receive sufficient funding. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette had pledged to reopen the office by the close of the current federal fiscal year.The focus of the AEO, according to the DOE, will include international cooperation on Arctic issues, research on methane hydrates, and the development of advanced microgrids and nuclear power systems, such as small modular reactors.ExpandTags:brouillettemenezesmurkowskismall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
STATEMENT FROM THE CEOStatement from ANS Executive Director / CEO Craig Piercy on UAMPS’ Carbon Free Power ProjectPress ReleasesSeptember 3, 2020, 3:49PM|ANS StaffAs the voice of American nuclear engineers and scientists, ANS congratulates NuScale Power for receiving the first-ever final safety evaluation report for a small modular reactor issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.ExpandTags:advanced reactorscarbon freenuclear powernuscalepress releasesmall modular reactorsuampsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Sixty-day extension for comments on proposed SMR ruleNuclear NewsPower & OperationsJuly 22, 2020, 7:12AM|Nuclear News StaffThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the deadline for comments on its “Proposed Rule for Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors and Other New Technologies” to allow more time for members of the public and other stakeholders to develop and submit their comments. The proposed rule and associated draft regulatory guide apply to non-light-water reactors and certain nonpower facilities, and were originally published in the Federal Register on May 12 with a deadline of July 27. The new deadline is September 25.ExpandTags:advanced reactorsemergency planningnrcsmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
White House appointee sees advanced nuclear option for Puerto RicoNuclear NewsPower & OperationsJuly 16, 2020, 12:43PM|Nuclear News StaffAll energy sources, including small modular reactors, are being considered to meet Puerto Rico’s energy needs, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Peter J. Brown said on July 15 during the second day of PR-Grid Virtual, a three-day online conference on Puerto Rico’s energy grid. Brown’s comments were quickly circulated on Twitter by people who are already working to make nuclear power a reality for Puerto Rico, including members of the Nuclear Alternative Project (NAP), a non-profit organization of Puerto Rican engineers in the nuclear industry.ExpandTags:advanced reactorsnuclear alternative projectpuerto ricosmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Comments requested on proposed EP ruleNuclear NewsPower & OperationsMay 28, 2020, 9:24AM|Nuclear News StaffThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission is taking comments on its “Proposed Rule for Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors and Other New Technologies,” published in the Federal Register on May 12. The proposed rule and associated draft regulatory guide apply to non–light-water reactors and certain nonpower facilities.ExpandTags:advanced reactorsemergency planningnrcsmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
RadioNuclear 22: HBO’s Chernobyl: A Setback or Opportunity? ANS Nuclear CafeJune 27, 2019, 2:14PM|Doug HardtmayerEpisode 22 of RadioNuclear is now available. In this episode, we discuss the recent miniseries "Chernobyl", which recently concluded on HBO. We debunk some of the more egregious articles written in the wake of the show (see links to these articles below). We also discuss good ways to engage with individuals who are captivated with the show, and not necessarily familiar with nuclear technology.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyatomic energy commissionchernobyldepartment of energydoug hardtmayerenvironmental benefits of nuclearfukushimahbonuclear historynuclear newsnuclear opponentsnuclear regulatory commissionnuclear sciencenuscalepublic policyradiationreactorsregulationrussiasmall modular reactorsu.s. governmentunion of concerned scientists (ucs)Share:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Advancing Nuclear: Paths to the FutureANS Nuclear CafeNovember 8, 2016, 2:41AM|ANS Nuclear Cafe"How do we move nuclear energy into the future?" was the question asked and answered in a variety of ways during a fascinating speakers' session that followed this morning's opening plenary. Several expert speakers in a variety of fields provided frank and illuminating commentary on the condition of nuclear now, and on the things that have to change for nuclear energy to be vibrant in the decades to come.Go to ArticleTags:idaho national laboratorynational laboratoriesnuclear technologysmall modular reactorsspent fuelspent nuclear fuel reprocessingShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Small Modular Reactors Take Large Step ForwardANS Nuclear CafeJuly 20, 2016, 12:03PM|ANS Nuclear CafeIn recent years the allure of small, flexible, easy to construct and operate nuclear plants incorporating small modular reactors (SMR) have continued to grow for a host of reasons. Here in the United States, we've watched the saga of the SMR unfold fairly slowly over the last few years, as companies have entered the fray to various levels of success and have achieved varied degrees of progress.* Now, the latest large step in getting these small and versatile reactors into the worldwide commercial market has been taken - by an effort involving Saudi Arabia and South Korea.Go to ArticleTags:small modular reactorssouth koreaShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS Winter Meeting 2015: Nuclear Energy and GHG EmissionsANS Nuclear CafeNovember 10, 2015, 1:16AM|ANS Nuclear Cafe Taishan EPR under construction; courtesy CGN•Written on location at the ANS Winter Meeting by Will DavisGo to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyenvironmental benefits of nuclearrenewable energysmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
BWXT will return in mid 2015ANS Nuclear CafeDecember 2, 2014, 7:11PM|ANS Nuclear CafeOn November 5, the day before a scheduled quarterly conference call with investors and analysts, Babcock & Wilcox (NYSE:BWC) announced that it was splitting into two separate publicly traded companies.Go to ArticleTags:pwrsreactor designssmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Business focused approach to molten salt reactorsANS Nuclear CafeSeptember 30, 2014, 4:00PM|Rod AdamsI've been listening to an evangelical group of molten salt reactor enthusiasts for several years. Their pitch is attractive and they often make good arguments about the value of rethinking the light water reactor technology model, but most of the participants are unrealistic about the economic, material, technical, and regulatory barriers that their concepts must overcome before they can serve market needs.Go to ArticleTags:molten salt reactorsnuclear technologysmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear Video Matinee: NuScale and TerraPower at CERAWeekANS Nuclear CafeApril 11, 2014, 6:00AM|ANS Nuclear CafeICOSA Media caught up with NuScale chief executive officer Chris Colbert and TerraPower CEO John Gilleland at the recent CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Tex. The two leaders of these innovative nuclear energy companies discuss the how's and why's of their small and beautiful reactor designs-the NuScale Small Modular reactor and the TerraPower Traveling Wave reactor.Go to ArticleTags:nuclear matineenuscalesmall modular reactorsterrapowerShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Small Modular Reactors—US Capabilities and the Global MarketANS Nuclear CafeApril 9, 2014, 3:57PM|Rod AdamsOn March 31-April 1, Nuclear Energy Insider held its 4th Annual Small Modular Reactor (SMR) conference in Charlotte, NC (following on the 2nd ANS SMR Conference in November 2013-for notes and report from that embedded topical meeting, see here).Go to ArticleTags:small modular reactorswestinghouseShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Argentina carries torch for SMR constructionANS Nuclear CafeFebruary 13, 2014, 7:25PM|Will Davis CAREM 25 Prototype Plant; illustration courtesy CNEANews came out this week that the first concrete had been poured at the construction site for the world's first small modular reactor (SMR) project-and it wasn't for a Generation mPower SMR at the former Clinch River site, or for a SMART SMR (which was the first type in the world to receive governmental design certification) at a site in South Korea.Go to ArticleTags:pwrssmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Small Modular Reactors at ANS 2013 Winter MeetingANS Nuclear CafeNovember 12, 2013, 9:03PM|Will Davis Small Modular Reactors are below 300 MWe output and typically have all components located within the reactor vessel or attached directly to it, as with the South Korean SMART SMR design here2nd American Nuclear Society SMR ConferenceGo to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyans winter meetingsmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
2nd ANS Small Modular Reactor Conference, Nov 12-14, Washington DCANS Nuclear CafeNovember 6, 2013, 7:57PM|ANS Nuclear CafeThe American Nuclear Society's Operations and Power Division will host the 2nd ANS Small Modular Reactor Conference during the ANS Winter Meeting on November 12-14, 2013, in Washington, DC. The Opening Plenary for the Conference will begin on Tuesday, November 12, at 8:00 a.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyans winter meetingsmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Realistic look at Small Modular Reactors in IdahoANS Nuclear CafeNovember 5, 2013, 4:57PM|Rod AdamsFrom October 30 through November 1, 2013, a group of about 150 people with questioning attitudes about small, modular reactors (SMRs) met in Idaho Falls, Idaho. They were treated to a number of presentations that described the technical progress that has been made so far and also provided a realistic, sobering look at the long, challenging development path that must be traversed to allow the technology to begin contributing to the world's energy security.Go to ArticleTags:idaho national laboratorynational laboratoriessmall modular reactorsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook