Experts on nuclear energy present challenges, opportunities during Purdue lectures

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − As part of Purdue's "Understanding Tomorrow's Nuclear Energy" lecture series, two key speakers presented on the future of nuclear energy use in America and beyond.

Korsnick: 'A Landscape for New Nuclear'

Maria Korsnick is the president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). The NEI, according to its website, "....develops policy on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting the (nuclear) industry."

Korsnick presented "A New Landscape for New Nuclear," which provided information on nuclear energy's economic and environmental benefits.

Exciting time to be part of nuclear industry

This presentation began with Korsnick iterating two messages to the students and staff in the audience.

"There has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the nuclear industry," Korsnick said. "The second is, we need you to do it. We need your help because we are at a crossroads both for our industry and the planet."

Climate change's effects

Korsnick spoke of how climate change is affecting the world and the shocking impacts it can leave.

"The climate crisis is no longer a vague sort of theoretical discussion," Korsnick said. "Droughts, floods, wildfires, they're all intensifying. Power blackouts are becoming more common and our adversaries are manipulating the world's fuel supply while they threaten the stability of electric grids and abuse their leverage over our allies."

The pros of nuclear energy

Ample electricity production, process heat and hydrogen and the elimination of energy-related air pollution and its related illnesses and deaths are some things Korsnick highlighted as of the benefits of nuclear energy.

"(Nuclear reactors) run uninterrupted," Korsnick said. "Every hour of every day, rain or shine. Most designs only refuel once every few years, if not longer. And they're far less prone to supply disruptions and price fluctuations than say coal and gas that they've replaced."

The hundreds, thousands or potentially millions of paying jobs that the future of the nuclear industry will bring was also highlighted.

What needs to go right

The "right" policy choices and a future generation of nuclear engineers are two key aspects Korsnick said needed to align in order for a nuclear energy-based future to be possible.

"And if we get both of those," Korsnick said, "nuclear energy will be the key that unlocks our zero-carbon future."

The political landscape of nuclear energy

Korsnick discussed the nation and world-wide views of nuclear energy in terms of policies.

"I just came back from Vienna," Korsnick said. "There's really been a (change) in the perception of nuclear energy. It had steadily gained recognition as an indispensable tool for driving down emissions.

"In Washington D.C., where we've built a bi-partisan coalition that's committed to that truth. In 2021, the Biden administration declared the next few years a 'can't miss' opportunity for nuclear."

Korsnick went on to explain recent action taken by congress in regards to the nuclear industry.

"Last fall, the historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure package delivered major investments in our industry," Korsnick said. "It included $6 billion for a civil nuclear credit program that supports existing reactors that are at-risk of closing. That program is a potential lifeline for the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California."

Korsnick re-iterated the importance of keeping carbon-free work forces available in the industry to attaining the net-zero carbon goal.

Additionally, a recent act by Congress will have an impact, Korsnick said.

"And most recently and importantly, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act," Korsnick said. "The act represents historic investment in domestic clean energy and it sets us on a path to reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030."

This act will go into effect in the beginning of 2024 and last until 2032.

State-level bills

Korsnick discussed bills at the state level that demand for nuclear energy, especially in states transitioning away from fossil fuels.

"Ten years ago, we would've been lucky to have even dozen pro-nuclear bills moving through state legislatures," Korsnick said. "In recent years, we've seen more than 100 bills working their way through state legislatures."

Korsnick provided a pro-nuclear bill example that has recently taken place in Indiana with the support of Purdue.

"The (Indiana) State Legislature passed a law paving the way for small modular reactors," Korsnick said. "(Two representatives from the Purdue University Women in Nuclear chapter) traveled to the Indiana statehouse with a delegation of their peers to testify in support of the bill in front of the Senate Utilities Committee."

Small modular reactors, or SMRs, according to energy.gov, "...can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination, or other industrial uses."

The first nuclear reactors built in the U.S. in 30 years

The Vogtle 3 and 4 nuclear units are the first of their kind to be built on American soil for the first time in over three decades.

"The Vogtle 3 reactor, which is expected to go online this year, will be the first AP1000 advanced pressurized water reactor in the nation," Korsnick said. "Vogtle 3 and 4 will produce more carbon-free electricity than all 7,200 wind turbines in the state of California."

After Vogtle 3 and 4 are completed, the total four reactors will produce enough carbon-free energy to power 1 million homes and businesses, according to Korsnick.

Employment opportunities in the industry

One of the benefits Korsnick previously mentioned of the nuclear industry are the many jobs it bring to the nation and around the world. She states this is where the industry needs graduates like those from Purdue.

"Today our industry employs more than 100,000 people directly," Korsnick said. "And the supply chain employs four times that much. As we build these reactors of tomorrow, those numbers will climb considerably. Nuclear energy is going to create incredible new career opportunities all over the country.

"And that's really where you come in. We need engineers, welders, pipe fitters and electricians to build these new plants. We need cybersecurity specialists to keep our data secure and project managers to guide our new vision, and operators to lead our plant teams."

Job opportunities won't just be limited to those in the nuclear industry, according to Korsnick, as those working with fossil fuels will find new opportunities as well.

"It's also going to create career opportunities for professionals that are currently working in fossil fuels," Korsnick said. "In fact, we had a recent report that looks specifically at communities that were transitioning from coal to nuclear. And the report estimated that each (SMR) cited to replace or retire a coal plant would provide hundreds of on-site jobs."

Economic development

Career benefits would not be the only ones to come out of an expanded nuclear industry, as Korsnick explained. The economic values within it would be favorable as well.

"Advanced nuclear reactors would be local economic engines," Korsnick said. "They'll bring tax revenue to support schools, libraries and first responders. And they'll do it all without emitting air pollutants that harm people's health.

"...According to one estimate, revenues for U.S. companies alone could be worth close to $2 trillion in exports over the next 30 years. That's something that we cannot afford to miss."

Student Q&A

"A New Landscape for New Nuclear" concluded with a Q&A session from students who submitted their questions on the registration page for the event. Below are Korsnick's responses.

What is the biggest hurdle you see currently for deploying nuclear reactors in the U.S.? What about in terms of international nuclear growth?

"One is the workforce, which is why I really pointed to you a bit in my opening comments, just to appreciate that this vision is gonna take a lot of people," Korsnick said. "And so we really need more people to understand the vibrancy of the nuclear energy industry and encourage them to be a part of that...The second this is supply chain. I think you probably all have heard, unfortunately, through our COVID experiences, that supply chains have been a bit of a challenge. Well and that's the same thing for nuclear."

"And what about it internationally? Internationally has a little bit of a different angle to it, and that is, some people that want nuclear internationally, they have established nuclear programs. So think about France or the United Kingdom; they have have fleets today...(Ghana and Kenya) are really interested in nuclear, well they don't have an established nuclear program. So one of the things from an international perspective, is some countries that are very, very hungry for nuclear, they don't have the sort of beginnings yet...And so we also have to work with them to get an established regulatory framework in parallel with the fact that they're already interested to build."

Can you share any perspectives you have on recovery of our nuclear manufacturing capabilities?

"This is a big deal," Korsnick said. "...We're not to prosperous on manufacturing these types of components. We've sort of given that away to other countries. It becomes really obvious when you're trying to do something like this...There's nothing like a good, strong demand signal to turn that around. And if you took anything away from my opening comments, is we got one hell of a demand signal coming. Our challenge is to prime that pump of it and to get that supply chain sort of started even before these demands come in."

What would you recommend community groups - either affiliated with Purdue or not - do to increase knowledge of the potentials of nuclear energy?

"I think the fact that so many people right now in the United States, outside the United States are really having this nuclear conversation," Korsnick said. "And I think that helps. It helps people become curious and want to understand nuclear. There area lot of resources out there. I guess I would encourage you to...(visit) NEI.org. Our website has a lot of resources on it as well."

Magwood: Opportunities and challenges of nuclear energy

Magwood is the director-general of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), and he recently presented “The 21st Century Nuclear Resurgence: Opportunities and Challenges,” at Purdue.

As Magwood explains it, his job connects countries to accomplish like-minded goals.

"I bring countries together to do things, to create cooperation to make nuclear technology more useable, safer and to push the boundaries of knowledge."

Specifically, Magwood and his team at the NEA have been working on a strategic plan for the future use of nuclear technology.

"(The plan) looks at where we are today and where we need to be in the future," Magwood said. "And our plan...does something that we haven't been able to do in the past, which is to think very farsightedly about the role of innovation in our society in particular in the context of climate change."

Achieving zero net emissions of carbon is essential to preventing further averse impacts of climate change. Magwood explained a multi-faceted way to achieve net-zero by 2050.

This multi-step plan includes four factors: long-term nuclear operations, large gen-III nuclear reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and non-electrical applications.

Long-term nuclear operations

Long-term and replacement forms of nuclear operations can come in multiple forms, according to Magwood, including the replacement of coal and diesel power, alternatives to world-wide shipping in the industrial sector and heat and hydrogen replacement.

Magwood explained the importance of the long-term uses of nuclear energy facilities, comparing it to upkeep a car must receive in order to continue working.

"In many countries around the world," Magwood said, "nuclear plants perceive to have almost a definite lifetime. Like they think once you hit 40 years and one day, it's too dangerous (to operate anymore)…And of course, we know that's not true.

"...Nuclear plants are a lot like a car. If you're willing to change out the breaks, or the transmission, put a new windshield in, you can keep this thing running as long as you are willing to put money into it."

Large gen-III reactors

Magwood explained how future use of large light water (LLW) reactors and our previous knowledge on them can benefit the United States' carbon zero-net goal.

According to NRC.gov, large light water reactors "are reactors generating at least 700 MWe using ordinary water as coolant. This includes boiling water reactors (BWRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs), the most common types of operating reactors in the United States.

"(LLW) will be built in many countries around the world, and I think it will come back to this country as well," Magwood said. "...Yes we've had problems (with LLW), yes we've had projects fail...These first of a kind lessons have to be absorbed in some way. And I think, increasingly, that there has to be a couple of rules in providing a safety net for these kinds of (projects). So generation three could have some big impacts. And I think they will."

SMRs

Magwood further explained the benefits of SMRs.

"They have the potential over a relatively long period of time to displace quite a bit of carbon emissions," Magwood said. "...I think this is something we have to look at. And it isn't just electricity."

This segued into Magwood's next point of non-power, AKA non-electrical power applications.

Non-electrical applications

Magwood spoke further about alternative power sources, such as nuclear, that is needed to reduce carbon emissions. This includes the replacement of coal and fossil fuel powers.

"There are so many aspects of the industry...where high temperature heat is needed for a variety of purposes," Magwood said. "And today, there's no good technology to...replace the use of coal and other fossil fuels. This is a big challenge."

Why and how it will work

In regards to committing more fully to nuclear energy power, especially in replacing other previously and currently used sources like fossil fuels, Magwood explained the importance private sectors have been playing.

"One of the reasons I think this is actually going to work better than previous (attempts), is because in the past, much of the work has been driven by government. Governments were pushing (the) industry to deploy new technologies, develop new reactors, using the national laboratories to develop advanced technologies.

"...(20 years ago) thinking about long-term technologies is not where (the thinking) was. But today, the private sectors are driving almost everything in terms of long terms technologies.

What needs to happen for the four requirements to fall into place

Magwood listed these four ways for the U.S. to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, as he explained, this goal is only achievable if each of these strategies come into play.

"If we're gonna be able to deploy these new technologies, quite frankly, a lot of things have to go right," Magwood said. "...First thing is that, we have an industry infrastructure that has not build nuclear plants really except for these two projects down in Geogia.

"...If you don't build nuclear plants for 25 or 30 years, don't expect you'll turn it all on overnight."

Magwood went on to say that other key components that need to fall into place include supply chain issues resolved, regulatory policies must align when new technologies often cause worries, and finally, "global thinking" will be required; meaning thinking beyond how these technologies will affect the world and not just the U.S.

The end game: the eventual price of carbon

The association of a price with carbon is something Magwood, despite his apprehensions, has come to accept.

"I was resistant to the idea for a long time," Magwood said, "but I have finally accepted, that the only way that we're ever gonna get our arms around CO2 emissions is to price carbon. It's that simple. There's just no other way that works, except for (putting) a price on carbon, and slowly escalate it over time.

"That's something that complex societies like ours should be able to do."

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Nuclear energy experts present challenges, opportunities during lectures