The US is making a push to revive its nuclear energy sector, aiming for energy independence and climate change mitigation. Former President Trump signed executive orders intended to streamline regulations and boost domestic nuclear energy production, targeting 400 gigawatts by 2050. This ambition involves technological innovations, like more efficient fuels, and private sector investment in new reactor designs.
However, significant hurdles remain. Experts cite high construction costs and lengthy build times as major obstacles. There's debate over the readiness of new technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs). Concerns persist about weakening regulatory oversight to accelerate development, potentially compromising safety. The industry also needs to become significantly more cost-competitive with natural gas and other energy sources to succeed without government support.
This renewed push echoes a previous "nuclear renaissance" around 2005, which faded after the Fukushima disaster. While nuclear energy's global contribution has declined, the US maintains a steady output, though few new reactors have come online in recent decades. The focus is now on SMRs, promising safer, cheaper, and more flexible energy. Yet, questions remain about their actual safety, cost-effectiveness, and waste production. Fuel supply challenges, particularly for highly enriched uranium used in SMRs, also need to be addressed.
Ultimately, the success of this nuclear revival hinges on overcoming economic and technical challenges while ensuring safety. Government commitment and private sector innovation are crucial, but skepticism persists about the feasibility of a large-scale nuclear energy future in the US.
Fuente Original: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/09/the-us-is-trying-to-kick-start-a-nuclear-energy-renaissance/
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