SMRs & ADVANCED REACTORS | ADVANCE ACT EXPLORED
Above: The ADVANCE Act directs the NRC to develop guidance to license and regulate microreactor designs within 18 months to expedite the demonstration and deployment microreactor projects being pursued by the US military. Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) is the preferred location for a micro-reactor deployment as early as 2027
● Developing and deploying new nuclear technologies: Which aims to reduce licensing costs for new technologies and calls on NRC to create a new licensing path for micro nuclear technologies, at brownfield and fossil fuel sites, with a fast-track for existing nuclear sites.
● Preserving existing nuclear energy generation: It reduces restrictions on international investment and extending nuclear licenses to foreign corporations
● Nuclear fuel cycle, supply chain, infrastructure and workforce: This directs the NRC to evaluate advanced manufacturing techniques and to enhance its ability to qualify and license accident-tolerant fuels and advanced nuclear fuels.
● Improving Commission efficiency: Which gives the NRC more flexibility on staffing issues and requires it to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act environmental review process.
The NRC said it will address the Act’s requirements by: ● Implementing initiatives for efficient, timely, and predictable license application reviews
● Establishing an expedited procedure for reviewing new reactor licence applications
● Implementing changes to how the agency recovers fees from licensees
● Assessing the licensing review process for new nuclear facilities at former fossil-fuel power plant sites and brownfield sites
● Developing strategies and guidance for microreactors ● Removing certain limitations on foreign ownership of some types of licensed facilities
● Continuing to support international coordination on nuclear technologies and licensing activities implementing new requirements relating to nuclear fuel.
The NRC will also develop a regulatory framework for fusion technology, which is in contrast to fusion technology development in the UK. In the UK, the government has acted where possible to move regulation of fusion away from nuclear-specific regulation and
34 | April 2025 |
www.neimagazine.com
towards the regulatory framework for other industries, arguing that fusion does not have the same scale of radiological risk as fusion. As required by the Act, the NRC has also updated its
mission statement. It now says: “The NRC protects public health and safety and advances the nation’s common defense and security by enabling the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the environment.” The old mission statement had said: “The NRC licenses and regulates the nation’s civilian use of radioactive materials to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety and to promote the common defence and security and to protect the environment.” The key change is that under the ADVANCE Act the NRC is now asigned the task of enabling nuclear use and deployment. The NRC’s dashboard tracks its progress in meeting
various deadlines for providing reports to Congress and revising agency regulations or guidance. Among progress
so far it has: ● Signed a Memorandum of Agreement with DOE on advanced nuclear fuels.
● Issued a report on new hiring and pay authorities ● Issued a report on advanced methods of manufacturing and construction.
● Issued a report on environmental reviews
Current initiatives also aim to improve its agility and preparedness to review submittals for nuclear energy projects. It promises to “continue to seek innovative ways to address the use of advanced manufacturing processes, advanced construction techniques, and rapid improvement or iterative innovation processes for nuclear energy projects”. Despite funding being nearly derailed, the bipartisan
ADVANCE Act is designed to accelerate growth in nuclear generation capacity for advanced and small modular reactors. It’s early days, but progress on removing barriers to deployment is key and it’s a clear step forward. ■
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
