Atoms for Humanity: Concept for a Project to Enable the Global Path to 10,000+ New Nuclear Reactors

Abstract

There is growing consensus among energy system experts, policy makers and environmental advocates that the world’s Path to Net Zero Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 must include the construction of new nuclear energy generation capacity, suitably integrated with other low GHG emission technologies. For helping frame the scope of the opportunity, this paper posits an ambition for future nuclear generation capacity that would contribute on the order of 10-20% of forecasted global energy supply in 2050. The capacity would comprise a mix of large nuclear plants using Generation III/III+/IV designs and smaller plants using Generation III+/IV Small Modular Reactor designs.

To achieve the unprecedented pace and scale of nuclear new-build needed for this Net Zero ambition, a paradigm shift is required in current nuclear energy business and operating models and in social license – a re-imagined value proposition. Importantly, it is critical that this shift be achieved in parallel with First-of-a-Kind deployments, so as to position the ability to transition rapidly to new-build programs at the pace and scale needed to meet the 2050 ambition.

This paper makes a bold proposal through the concept for a project that would help set the conditions that will enable such an ambitious nuclear energy build-out to occur.