EurekAlert!
Summary
Developers seeking to deploy advanced nuclear reactors can find high market potential in states with energy-intensive industries, nuclear-friendly laws, and widespread social acceptance – factors outlined in a new report by researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The report, “Microreactor Applications in U.S. Markets,” evaluated state-level legal, regulatory, economic and technology implications for microreactor applications in the U.S., with Alaska and Wyoming as early adopters to deploy advanced nuclear reactors.
“Alaska and Wyoming have their own niche markets, but there is commonality in the remoteness of the applications, mobile uses for microreactors in mining, and energy use for refined products derived from mined sources,” said David Shropshire, an INL nuclear energy economist. He and Steven Aumeier, an INL senior advisor, authored the report along with university partners who are part of the INL-led Emerging Energy Markets Analysis. This report comes on the heels of the 2021 Global Market Analysis for Microreactors.
The report also outlined areas needing further research, including developing a deeper understanding of public acceptance or resistance to microreactors. Other outstanding questions indicate the need to: Evaluate considerations for siting microreactors in northern latitudes, such as permafrost considerations, district heating, economic impacts from opening the Northwest Passage, use of microreactors for emergency management and disaster response, and analysis of critical mineral extraction and refining.
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