The Electric Power Research Institute and the Nuclear Energy Institute jointly released on Sept. 9 their updated North American Advanced Reactor Roadmap, a strategic blueprint that could enable the deployment of more than 300 gigawatts of advanced nuclear capacity.
"Developed through extensive industry collaboration, the roadmap serves as a comprehensive approach to accelerate the actions necessary for enabling advanced reactors to meet growing market demand for reliable, affordable energy, driven by AI, electrification, and industrial onshoring," EPRI said.
Since its launch in 2023, the North American industry has made significant progress with the deployment of two advanced reactors, approval of multiple licenses in Canada and the U.S., significant private investment in nuclear technologies, and increasing public support for nuclear energy.
The initial roadmap presents a foundational approach for the deployment of advanced reactors including seven enablers to support the first movers, fast followers, licensing efficiency, siting availability and permitting, indigenous and public engagement, supply chain ramp-up, and workforce development; established ownership and implementation targets for 45 key issues necessary for delivering advanced reactors into the market, encompassing licensing, fuel cycle, supply chain, construction, operation, and workforce development; and ten success criteria to maintain a view on the long-term goals of wide-scale nuclear deployment.
The roadmap update, developed with input from across the U.S. and Canadian nuclear industries, reflects two years of progress and implementation, highlighting completed actions, introducing new priorities, and documenting next steps to address evolving industry needs. The roadmap further supports regulatory modernization, supply chain development, and workforce readiness.
Progress toward key issues identified as priorities in the first roadmap has occurred in several areas, including:
- Finalizing emergency preparedness guidance -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published the Emergency Preparedness for Small Modular Reactors and Other New Technologies final rule, establishing a framework suitable for advanced reactors. Additional guidance is being developed by NEI and the national labs to help applicants implement the rule.
- Streamlining international regulatory processes -- Ongoing cooperation between NRC and national laboratories aims to reduce duplication in licensing reviews, share expertise, and leverage third-party verification.
- Launching initiatives to reduce fuel costs and scale supply chains -- Awards totaling over USD $6 billion have been made to companies for fuel enrichment and deconversion. These initiatives aim to kick-start the supply chain, with private industry expected to sustain growth through bankable orders.
- Piloting accelerated material qualification projects -- EPRI's Advanced Reactor Materials Initiative is piloting approaches to accelerate materials code qualification. Collaborating with a U.S. Department of Energy program supports prioritization of testing and qualification for near- and mid-term deployments.
- Advancing workforce training and recruitment strategies -- The Industry Workforce Strategic Plan launched six teams to address long-term challenges. Initiatives include new career clusters, training alignment with educational institutions, and enhanced recruitment strategies, especially for veterans.
- Publishing construction method reports to de-risk and standardize builds -- EPRI reports assess precast concrete construction and deeply embedded construction methods, identifying best practices and gaps. A construction task force is working to identify demonstration needs and close technology gaps.
Additionally, the update identifies several new key areas, including the need for major improvements to support economical commercial-scale manufacturing of advanced fuels. Projects targeting cost reduction strategies for Tri-Structural Isotropic fuel and metallic fuels have been proposed, and an EPRI research project evaluating the scalability of fuel salt synthesis techniques is expected to be published by the end of 2025.
A steering group representing advanced reactor developers, suppliers, utilities, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), non-governmental organizations, and national laboratories led the assessment of work on the roadmap.
"Using the roadmap as a guide, the nuclear industry has made significant strides in areas such as piloting accelerated material qualification projects, advancing workforce training and recruitment, and assessing how construction methods can reduce the risks of new builds," said Steve Chengelis, EPRI vice president of Energy Supply, Nuclear Development. "This update builds on that momentum and charts a path forward to accelerate deployment and innovation to support increased demand through reliable, affordable energy."
"When it comes to new nuclear power, the challenge isn't demand but being able to build fast enough to meet it. The North American nuclear industry is confident in the ability to rise to the challenge and deliver the reliable, affordable and clean energy needed to power the future," said Marc Nichol, executive director of new nuclear at NEI. "With projects across U.S. and Canada actively in development, from submitting operating license applications or beginning construction, the Advanced Reactor Roadmap continues to serve as a vital tool for aligning industry actions and stakeholder efforts that enable success. The updated roadmap signals exciting progress for the North American nuclear industry and the clean, reliable energy future we're building together."
Scott Hunnewell, vice president of Tennessee Valley Authority's New Nuclear Program added, "The roadmap's collaborative approach has helped unify diverse stakeholders around a common vision for advanced reactor deployment. As a national leader in advancement of new nuclear technologies, we're proud to contribute to this effort and look forward to continued progress."
The 2025 Advanced Reactor Roadmap Update is available at https://epri.co/AdvancedReactorRoadmap.
