'Nuclear Energy Innovation Capacity Act' to promote commercialization of 'advanced nuclear reactor' established at the US Congress

by Frédéric Paulussen

The "Nuclear Energy Innovation Capacity Act" that passed the US Senate in March, 2018 was expected to pass through the House of Representatives. This measure is to promote the development of safe and innovative nuclear reactor technology with the cooperation of national laboratories and private enterprises.

S.97 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/97

US Congress passes bill to help advanced nuclear power | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/09/us-congress-passes-bill-to-help-advanced-nuclear-power/

The accident of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant reconfirms the dangers of nuclear power plants worldwide. In the United States, new reactors are being built even after the decommissioning of old nuclear reactors is done in 2011 There are not many people who think that nuclear power generation is necessary because of the necessity of "carbon removal" in order to suppress the influence of climate change.

With that intention also submitted was the "Nuclear Energy Innovation Capacity Act" bill. For the commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors, it includes contents such as openness of research capacity of the Department of Energy to the private sector and development of multipurpose fast neutron source for nuclear reactor material and fuel test.

[United States] Bill to accelerate commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors passed by Congress of the Senate - Information on topics related to overseas electric power | Federation of Electric Federations of Japan
https://www.fepc.or.jp/library/kaigai/kaigai_topics/1257661_4115.html

For the high-speed neutron reactor, the "Nuclear Energy and Leadership Law" directing construction to the Ministry of Energy has been submitted to the Senate.

Although the fact that the new reactor construction is stagnating is that the cost problem is great, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has the possibility to generate efficiency that can not be obtained in existing light water reactors as a new nuclear reactor technology We conclude that design and adoption of advanced technology is necessary.