Creating the future of nuclear energy

The nuclear energy industry is at a crossroads: existing nuclear reactors are struggling to operate economically in some tough markets, and construction of new designs in the U.S. is slow and over budget. At the same time, interest in and development of the next generation of nuclear reactors is growing at an unprecedented rate, and some other nations are building new reactors efficiently. Can the current fleet reduce costs? Will the next generation of designs be “walkaway safe” and cost-competitive? What about safeguards and recycling of nuclear fuel? Many new technologies, including Data Analytics and Machine Learning, can be impactful in answering these questions. This talk will frame some of the big challenges in nuclear energy and how new technologies are starting to be used. We’ll also look to the future in terms of where the biggest impacts are likely to be and what we can do to move quickly.

Speaker: Rachel Slaybaugh

Editor's Note: This lecture is also being given as part of the CITRIS Research Exchange on November 28.