The commoditization of civil nuclear power

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Engineering
• Sustainable Energy Systems
• Digital Assurance Frameworks

Background:

• Current nuclear power models face challenges in cost-effectiveness and public perception.
• The need for scalable, zero-emission energy solutions is critical for climate change mitigation.
• Advancements in digital technologies and manufacturing offer new possibilities for nuclear energy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the commoditization of nuclear power through factory production of sealed micro-power units.
• To explore the paradigm shift to manufacture-operate-remove-recycle (MORR) for nuclear power plants.
• To analyze the technical, economic, socio-political, and safeguarding implications of this shift.

Main Methods:

• Integration of nuclear digital environments for both large bespoke and fusion power plants.
• Development of a holistic assurance framework for digitally enabled micro-power units.
• Analysis of the MORR lifecycle for micro-reactors and its impact on safeguarding.

Main Results:

• Factory production of micro-power units can significantly lower nuclear power costs, comparable to offshore wind.
• A single production line could replace a third of the UK's fossil fuel electricity generation within 15 years.
• The MORR approach, supported by a digital assurance framework, can lead to type approvals and streamlined regulation.

Conclusions:

• The commoditization of nuclear power via MORR presents a viable pathway to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions.
• Significant cultural and technological shifts are required within the nuclear industry and society.
• The proposed digital assurance framework is key to managing safeguarding issues and enabling widespread adoption.