THE DIGITAL SHIFT | SPECIAL REPORT
Left: Projects by the Idaho National Laboratory and the US NRC are exploring how digital twins can support autonomous reactor control by using machine learning and predictive analytics
The potential benefits are significant: digital twins can
enhance decision-making, improve risk assessments, boost performance, and facilitate autonomous operations. By integrating vast amounts of real-time data, digital twins also serve as a centralised intelligence hub, providing stakeholders with accurate insights into past, present, and future plant conditions, ultimately leading to a safer and more efficient nuclear power industry.
Digital instrumentation and control systems Instrumentation and control (I&C) systems are the central nervous system of a nuclear power plant, continuously monitoring, coordinating and controlling all plant components and equipment to ensure safe and efficient operations. The control room acts as the central hub for these systems, enabling real-time monitoring and coordination of all plant components. Upgrading aging analogue I&C systems with advanced digital systems is a critical part of plant modernisation. Digital I&C enables automated diagnostics, real-time equipment health monitoring and predictive maintenance, reducing the need for manual inspections and minimising downtime. It also addresses parts obsolescence issues, eliminates failure vulnerabilities in analogue systems and reduces hardware complexity. While many nuclear power plants worldwide have been using digital I&C for years, the US has been slower to upgrade due to regulatory complexities, cost considerations, and a continued reliance on proven analogue systems. However, next-generation nuclear technologies, including advanced reactors (ARs) and small modular reactors (SMRs), are designed to operate with digital I&C system from the start. This shift is driving a broader transformation across the industry, accelerating the adoption of digital technologies in both new reactor designs and the modernisation of existing power plants. A notable example is Purdue University Reactor Number
One (PUR-1). While PUR-1 is a research reactor rather than a power-generating facility, it became the first US nuclear reactor licensed to operate with a fully digital I&C system. This achievement highlights the growing role of digital technology in improving reactor monitoring, safety, and efficiency.
Regulatory compliance Nuclear power is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. Plant owners and operators must
adhere to a vast framework of laws, codes and standards set by governmental agencies like the NRC, European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG), Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and standards developers like ASME, ANS, ISO, IEEE, IEC and more. Licensing can be a long, arduous process, dependent
on a careful balance of safety, politics, funding and public perception. For emerging technologies like ARs and SMRs, regulatory bodies and Standards Development Organisations (SDOs) frequently update or introduce new standards and regulations to address evolving safety, security, and operational requirements. Digital standards management can simplify the complex
regulatory compliance process. With digital standards, companies can easily access and use standards, reducing the time spent manually searching for relevant documents. Automated alerts can also notify users when a standard is updated, while intelligent comparison tools can highlight specific changes, reducing compliance risks.
Project lifecycle traceability Traceability is critical in the nuclear industry where regulatory compliance, safety and operational integrity depend on meticulous documentation and data management. Nuclear industry companies must maintain comprehensive records to ensure compliance, facilitate audits and reduce the risk of costly delays or fines. Additionally, much of the nuclear industry’s institutional knowledge remains locked in paper-based records and legacy systems. Digital transformation is crucial for preserving critical engineering data, improving accessibility, and ensuring informed decision-making throughout the plant lifecycle. Beyond compliance, project traceability enhances
collaboration, risk management and operational efficiency. Establishing a digital single source of ‘truth’ ensures that changes, approvals, and design modifications are accurately recorded and easily accessible. This not only reduces rework and project delays but also enhances innovation, safety, and long-term asset management in a rapidly evolving nuclear energy sector.
Digital innovation Digital transformation is a catalyst for innovation in the nuclear industry, enabling advancements in next-generation reactor designs such as SMRs, ARs, and microreactors,
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