“This is a very interesting analysis.

My gut feeling is that this analysis, at least to 2005, is broadly correct. But I am not aware of significant innovation in nuclear power that is kept secret.

Worldwide there was not much nuclear build activity between the early 1990s and 2005. Sizewell B in the UK is the UK’s most modern nuclear power station , and it came onstream 15 years ago. The nuclear literature is quite full of work to extend the lives of nuclear plants – economically this is clearly advantageous in terms of getting more from an investment – rather than building new, novel plants. In fact with new build the trend has been to standardise on nuclear plant designs, for reasons of efficiency, and make a virtue of this. The new nuclear designs are called “evolutionary” as they have been slightly modified on earlier ones, eg to increase the number of passive safety features and get more efficient fuel use, rather than being very radically different. There is some development underway but less pure research.

A point we have raised in our nuclear infrastructure work is the need for robust nuclear R and D, and facilities to support it .

On a related topic, last year global medical radioisotope supply reached a crisis because most of the reactors that produce the radioisotopes for medical imaging are ageing (over 40 years old) and some needed long outages for maintenance and repair. These reactors are usually located at nuclear R and D facilities. Interestingly, this year the market is showing signs of response: the younger (in relative terms) isotope production reactors are increasing their capacity and output, and alternative radioisotopes that aren’t sourced from reactors are being used more in medicine.

I think nuclear R and D will be more multinational in future. There is a group called the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership which is supporting the development of advanced and innovative nuclear fuel cycle technologies. Started in the USA, UK is a partner with about 30 other countries .”

Ronan Palmer

Not surprisingly, many talented researchers in merchanical, chemical, and electrical engineering searched elsewhere for financial support permanently depleting the ranks of people working on nuclear problems.

Restocking the talent pool will take another decade. Current innovation in the U.S. focuses on small reactors where venture capital funding start-ups are in pursuit of market share. It will be another five years or longer before their products are licensed by the NRC and become available to customers.

Innovation in the nuclear field does not stop or start like a race car. Think hundred car freight train and you’ll have the right visual metaphor.