ECA WEBINAR: ADVANCED NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT: AN INTRODUCTORY CONVERSATION WITH U.S. DOE AND U.S. NRC

In coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), ECA is excited to host the first in a new series of educational webinars, "Advanced Nuclear Technology Deployment: An Introductory Conversation with U.S. DOE & U.S. NRC" on Wednesday, February 21st at 2pm EST

We hope you can join us and please contact ECA Program Director, Faith Sanchez, (faiths@energyca.org) with any questions.

NEW-WAVE REACTOR TECHNOLOGY COULD KICK-START A NUCLEAR RENAISSANCE - AND THE US IS BANKING ON IT

CNN | 02/01/2024

Off the Siberian coast, not far from Alaska, a Russian ship has been docked at port for four years. The Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first floating nuclear power plant, sends energy to around 200,000 people on land using next-wave nuclear technology: small modular reactors.

This technology is also being used below sea level. Dozens of US submarines lurking in the depths of the world’s oceans are propelled by SMRs, as the compact reactors are known.

SMRs — which are smaller and less costly to build than traditional, large-scale reactors — are fast becoming the next great hope for a nuclear renaissance as the world scrambles to cut fossil fuels. And the US, Russia and China are battling for dominance to build and sell them.

The Biden administration and American companies are plowing billions of dollars into SMRs in a bid for business and global influence. China is leading in nuclear technology and construction, and Russia is making almost all the world’s SMR fuel. The US is playing catch-up on both.

There’s no mystery behind why the US wants in on the market. It already lost the wind and solar energy race to China, which now provides most of the world’s solar panels and wind turbines. The big problem: The US hasn’t managed to get an SMR working commercially on land.

SMRs are potentially an enormous global market that could bring money and jobs to the US, which is trying to sell entire fleets of reactors to countries, rather than the bespoke, large-scale power plants that notoriously go over budget and way past deadline.

While SMRs provide less energy — typically a third of a traditional plant — they require less space and can be built in more places. They are made up of small parts that can be easily delivered and assembled on site, like a nuclear plant flatpack.

Most countries are trying to rapidly decarbonize their energy systems to address the climate crisis. Wind and solar now provide at least 12% of the world’s power, and in some places, like the European Union, they provide more than fossil fuels. But there’s an increasing sense of urgency to clean up our energy systems as extreme weather events wreak havoc on the planet and as challenges with renewables remain.

For some experts, nuclear energy — in all forms, large or small — has an important role to play in that transition. The International Energy Agency, which outlined what many experts say is the world’s most realistic plan to decarbonize, sees a need to more than double nuclear energy by 2050.

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DOE ORDERS CREATION OF NUCLEAR ENERGY COORDINATING COMMITTEE

Manila Standard | 02/04/2024

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla issued DOE Department Order DO2024-01-0001 on Jan. 29, 2024 to establish a nuclear energy program coordinating committee (NEP-CC) with the aim of achieving a 2,400-megawatt nuclear power capacity by 2032.

The committee, led by the DOE undersecretary as chair, will include representatives from various bureaus, as outlined in the directive.

The nation is entering Phase 2, focusing on preparatory activities for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Phase 3 will involve the implementation of the first nuclear power plant.

The DOE underscored the need to reorganize the coordinating arm of the agency to effectively support the Nuclear Energy Program-Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC). The NEP-IAC is tasked with conducting a pre-feasibility study to evaluate the need for and viability of incorporating nuclear power into the energy mix.

The NEP-IAC completed Phase 1, which involves considerations preceding the decision to launch a nuclear power program. It also conducted the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Mission Phase 1 from Dec. 11 to 17, 2018, attended by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts. The mission included energy planning studies, pre-feasibility studies, assessment of nuclear power infrastructures and submission of a national position on nuclear.

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REGISTRATION IS LIVE FOR ECA's New Nuclear Forum: Building Nuclear Partnerships and Projects, May 8-9, 2024 in Kennewick, WA

ECA is excited to be hosting its third New Nuclear Forum, the only meeting designed to bring together DOE, federal, state, local and tribal governments and policymakers with developers, utilities, regulators, industry, and academia to identify opportunities, challenges and to build the partnerships necessary to support nuclear development.

Communities across the country are considering nuclear projects for many reasons - from diversifying regional economies, creating clean energy jobs or meeting carbon reduction goals, to increasing energy security and rebuilding the U.S. supply chain.  Some communities have a familiarity with nuclear energy projects, while others are just beginning to evaluate potential interest.  The ECA Forum is designed to enable shared learning so that local, State and Tribal governments evaluating nuclear projects can be meaningfully engaged - and prepared - to match the strengths and needs of their communities with new nuclear opportunities.  

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ECA Forum is open to communities, State, Tribal and local policymakers, industry, utilities, developers, experts, financiers, state legislators, community groups, and economic development organizations working to build capacity and support for new nuclear development in the U.S.

MEETING GOALS:
This meeting is part of ECA's New Nuclear Initiative to define the role of local governments in supporting the development of the new nuclear technologies, and answer three core questions:

• What do communities need to know to attract and support new nuclear development/missions?
• How can communities support industry, national laboratories, state, and federal governments and how should they communicate about local resources and development opportunities?
• What hurdles and challenges will communities face - along with industry and developers - and who can we work with to overcome them?

AGENDA:
ECA, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, has developed an agenda that continues to look holistically at the what a nuclear project entails: from the front-end of the fuel-cycle to the back-end of the fuel cycle, from building local support, to state support and enabling legislation, from identifying the right public-private partnerships, to understanding regulatory oversight. Session topics include:

• How to Build Community Acceptance
• Reusing Energy Sites for New Nuclear Development
• Understanding Industrial Applications of Nuclear Energy
• Pursuing a Reliable, Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply
• Rebuilding the U.S. Nuclear Supply

OPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Tuesday, May 7, 2024: ECA is offering an optional "Nuclear 101" for participants new to nuclear energy.
Friday, May 10, 2024: ECA is offering an optional tour:  Historic Hanford Tour / Future of Nuclear around Hanford Tour.  Additional registration will be required and openings are limited.

QUESTIONS?
For any questions, comments, or to learn more about the ECA New Nuclear Forums, please contact Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org or Faith Sanchez, ECA Program Director, at faiths@energyca.org.

NEW MEDIA:

Gone Fission Nuclear Report: DOE Procurement Process: How EM Contracts Work

January 29, 2024 | S4E2 

The Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup program is now focused on 15 remaining sites around the country, down from 107 at the start of the program three decades ago. It is a multi-million dollar, multi-decade effort that depends on qualified contractors to get the job done. DOE is the largest civilian contracting agency in the federal government. In this week’s episode, the Gone Fission Nuclear Report examines the procurement process that results in contract awards and looks at the agency’s new contracting model, the role of small business and the impact of protests on cleanup schedules and progress. Guests are Angela Watmore, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Project Management and Aaron Deckard, Procurement Director, EM Consolidated Business Center. 

UPCOMING ECA EVENTS: 

ECA Webinar: Advanced Nuclear Technology Deployment: An Introductory Conversation with U.S. DOE & U.S. NRC

February 21, 2024 at 2pm EST | Zoom Webinar

Register Here

ECA Forum: Building Nuclear Partnerships & Projects

May 8-9, 2024 | Kennewick, WA

Register Here | Agenda | Sponsorship Information

2024 National Cleanup Workshop

September 16-18, 2024 | Crystal Gateway Marriott (Arlington, VA)

More Information Here

Check out ECA's latest report! 

DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE

This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.