Hype Shifts from SMRs to Illusory “Advanced Reactors,” Biden to Follow?

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) are slated to hold meetings on illusory “advanced reactors” and the fuels for them.

1. The NRC Commission meeting is on April 13, 9 a.m. EDT, and mostly appears to be a pep rally: “BRIEFING ON ADVANCED REACTOR PREPAREDNESS THROUGH REGULATORY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH COOPERATION”

https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/schedule.html

NOTE: The NRC is refusing to post the agenda for this meeting but we have posted it as a public service – you can find it below.

2. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) meeting, May 12-13: “U.S. NWTRB to Hold Public Meeting on U.S. DOE Management Approach for Advanced Nuclear Fuels Including Accident Tolerant Fuels”

https://www.nwtrb.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/prl220.pdf

On the release of top-line Fiscal Year 2022 budget numbers on April 9, 2021, looks like DOE continues to take the bait on so-called advanced reactors and those out for taxpayer support: “Within DOE, the discretionary request invests more than $8 billion, an increase of at least 27 percent over 2021 funding, in technology such as advanced nuclear energy technologies, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, and even innovative approaches to air conditioning and refrigeration.” See DOE release of April 9, 2021: https://www.energy.gov/articles/statement-secretary-granholm-presidents-fy22-discretionary-funding-request

For more information on the President’s FY22 discretionary funding request, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/FY-2022-Discretionary-Request.

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AGENDA NRC Commission BRIEFING ON ADVANCED REACTOR PREPAREDNESS THROUGH REGULATORY ENGAGEMENT AND RESEARCH COOPERATION

(Public Meeting)

Purpose: To brief the Commission on agency preparedness activities for advanced reactors, particularly with respect to fuels and materials, through domestic and international regulatory engagement and research partnerships

Scheduled: April 13, 2021

9:00 am

Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Location: Commissioners’ Conference Room, 1^st Floor OWFN

Participants: Presentations

External Panel 42 mins.*

Dr. Ashely Finan, Director, National Reactor Innovation Center, 6 mins.*

Idaho National Laboratory

Topics:

· Various lab programs for advanced reactor innovations and research

· Support for advanced reactor deployment including small modular reactors

and microreactors

J. Clay Sell, Chief Operating Officer, X-energy 6 mins.*

Topics:

· HALEU production and fuel fabrication

· Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

award for demonstration project

· Approach to fuel qualification and high temperature materials

Simon Irish, Chief Executive Officer, Terrestrial Energy USA, Inc. 6 mins.*

Topics:

· Perspectives on licensing a design in multiple countries

· Participation in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Vendor Design Review process and received funding to further develop

their technology (Strategic Innovation Fund)

· Approach to fuel qualification and high temperature materials

Stephen Kuczynski, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, 6 mins.*

Southern Nuclear Operating Company

Topics:

· Utility perspective on advanced reactors

· Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project – DOE award for risk

reduction project

· Approach to licensing (Licensing Modernization Project and guidance)

Todd Allen, Senior Visiting Fellow ,Third Way 6 mins.*

Topics:

· Role of advanced reactors in the future of clean energy

· Progress on licensing/regulating advanced reactors

Steven Swilley, Deputy Chief Nuclear Officer and Senior Director, Research 6 mins.*

and Development Nuclear, Electric Power Research Institute

Topics:

· Technical preparedness through research and regulatory engagement

· Role of public-private partnerships

Dr. Ed Lyman, Director Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists 6 mins*

Topic:

· Perspectives on advanced reactors and fuels

Commission Q & A 40 mins.

Break 5 mins.

NRC Staff Panel 45 mins.*

Margie Doane, Executive Director for Operations

Topic:

· Opening Remarks

Robert Taylor, Deputy Office Director for New Reactors, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR)

Topics:

· Advanced reactor program transformation

· Program focus areas to support national advanced reactor priorities

· Domestic and international partnerships

Ray Furstenau, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES)

Topics:

· Research cooperation with DOE through Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act

· Research to support agency readiness for advanced reactor licensing

· Innovative approaches to fuels and materials research

Raj Iyengar, Chief, Component Integrity Branch, RES

Topics:

· Advanced materials and manufacturing processes

· International research cooperation

Marilyn Diaz Maldonado, Chemical Engineer, Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards

Topics:

· Advanced reactor fuels fabrication and transportation

· Regulatory preparedness for advanced reactor fuels licensing

Michelle Hayes, Chief, Advanced Reactor Technical Branch, NRR

Topics:

· Applying research to advanced reactor licensing

· International regulatory cooperation

Commission Q & A 40 mins.

*For presentation only and does not include time for Commission Q & A’s.

Discussion – Wrap-up 5 mins.

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