NEA conference focuses on new nuclear development

More than 300 delegates from around the world attended the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's recent Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2025 conference in Paris, France. In attendance were representatives from governments, industry, public and private financial sectors, academia, legal firms, think tanks, and research institutions. Cohosted by the Korean government, the event focused on practical, near-term solutions to barriers facing nuclear new builds.

"Many different countries and players have joined the discussion on nuclear energy today, including industries that have never considered nuclear energy before, such as the high-tech sector and the chemical companies," said OECD NEA director general William D. Magwood IV during his opening remarks. "We are here because we know what we need to do to succeed. We need to rebuild supply chains, expertise, and regulatory capacity. All this work is within reach, but it will require leadership and cooperation."

Discussion topics: Over the two days of the conference, held September 18-19, participants discussed how to reinforce the nuclear sector's supply chain, from timely construction and skilled workforce development to ensuring a robust nuclear fuel supply and resilience.

According to the OECD NEA, representatives from the multilateral development banks that have signaled openness to nuclear energy, as well as major private capital players that have made nuclear financing announcements in recent months, contributed frequently to the exchanges on the policies and financing models required to scale up nuclear energy.

The program also featured sessions dedicated to the deployment of small modular reactors, the role of artificial intelligence, the challenges and opportunities associated with the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, the development of nuclear technologies for applications in space, and the demand for and supply of medical radioisotopes, as well as discussions on nuclear energy for emerging economies.

Other actions: Below are some of the announcements made during the conference:

• The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will cohost Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2026.
• The OECD NEA will conduct a new in-depth study aimed at optimizing the Korean electricity and energy system to meet the country's policy goals. This cost study will be carried out in collaboration with experts from key Korean institutions, including the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.
• A new report containing an analysis of the global potential, technical requirements, and policy opportunities of using SMRs for on-grid applications at current coal plant sites was launched during the Accelerating SMRs Summit on September 18. SMRs for Replacing Coal: Opportunities and Challenges for Small Modular Reactors was informed by direct engagement with stakeholders in the electricity and coal sectors.
• Nine nuclear industry associations issued an industry statement encouraging governments to support investment in nuclear fission projects encompassing all nuclear technologies, from large-scale nuclear new builds to power uprates and lifetime extensions of existing reactors to development and deployment of SMRs and microreactors.