{"id":28,"date":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/?page_id=28"},"modified":"2025-12-19T18:22:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:22:38","slug":"panel-discussion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/operations\/nuclear\/home\/duke\/panel-discussion\/","title":{"rendered":"Panel Discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Implementing Advanced Nuclear Technology Panel Discussion<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Tomorrow’s Nuclear Energy<\/em> lecture series<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Feb. 22, 3:30-4:30 p.m.<\/strong>
Stewart Center Fowler Hall<\/strong>
Moderated by Chris Nolan, vice president, new nuclear generation strategy and regulatory engagement for Duke Energy<\/p>\n\n\n

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Purdue University and Duke Energy will close the \u201cUnderstanding Tomorrow\u2019s Nuclear Energy\u201d lecture series with a panel discussion on \u201cImplementing Advanced Nuclear Technology\u201d featuring industry experts. The discussion will focus on policy, technical, commercial and other requirements to make the use of small modular reactors a reality.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The panel will include Tim Hanley, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Constellation Nuclear; Luis Reyes, former executive, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Ahmet Tokpinar, principal vice president and general manager, nuclear power, Bechtel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-lecture summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even though there are many challenges involved with using nuclear power to bring about a carbon-free future, these challenges don\u2019t stand in the way, the panelists agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a policy standpoint, Reyes said that the USNRC has already recognized the need for regulations to accommodate advanced nuclear reactor technology. These regulations were originally designed for the current nuclear fleet of commercial plants, known as light-water reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe NRC has identified over a hundred changes that need to be incorporated through these regulations in order to make them suitable to expedite the processing of these applications for advanced nuclear technology,\u201d Reyes said. \u201cThis is a large effort, and like other industries, it requires a lot of resources, specifically nuclear engineers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small modular reactors (SMRs), a type of advanced nuclear reactor technology, could address some of the challenges that have been posed with light-water reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of those problems is a lengthy construction process. In his role at Bechtel, Tokpinar has seen nuclear plant projects get canceled before they are fully built due to running out of funding. The modular nature of SMRs, meaning that they would be factory-assembled prior to installation as a single unit onsite, could prevent construction delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since SMRs are significantly smaller than light-water reactors, they also would have the advantage of requiring less labor. Tokpinar pointed out an ongoing skilled labor shortage in the construction industry that is expected to worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the next four years, there will be 3.5 million construction workers short,\u201d he said. \u201cAnother projection is that by 2025, 25% of the existing construction workforce will retire. So something has to change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction cost savings of SMRs would also make nuclear power more affordable. From his perspective at Constellation Nuclear, Hanley believes that affordability is essential for utilities to deploy new nuclear technologies. But these utilities would also need the first SMR demonstrations to be successful to consider investing in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do need to look at this as a long-term investment. The nuclear plants that we have now have operated, almost all of them, 40 years, and most of them have been relicensed to 60 years,\u201d Hanley said. \u201cThe SMRS are going to be very capital intensive at the beginning to build them and you\u2019ve got to look at that investment over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if the industrial sector can consider using SMRs to reach its carbon neutral goals, then universities can, too. Purdue University and Duke Energy are currently investigating whether advanced nuclear reactor technology could be a potential fit for the Purdue campus community\u2019s long term energy needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no reason why it couldn\u2019t be done. I think you\u2019re going to start seeing announcements of SMRs being paired with a lot of industrial facilities,\u201d Reyes said. \u201cA facility like a large university could definitely use the same concept.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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