2020 is a year we’re all excited to see the end of. With a devastating pandemic, civil unrest and a divisive election, it’s been a challenging 12 months for many.
Despite the chaos of 2020, there were encouraging headlines for nuclear energy this year. 2020 saw an increased recognition of nuclear’s role in a carbon-free future, as well as some exciting milestones and developments as the industry continues to develop towards the next generation of reactors.
As we anticipate what 2021 will hold, let’s take a look back at the stories that captivated you the most in 2020.
- Why Refuel a Nuclear Reactor Now?
2020 will always be remembered for the effect the coronavirus had on the world, and it’s no surprise that the topic that dominated most peoples’ minds is reflected in our top story of the year. At the beginning of the pandemic, the nuclear industry was tasked with refueling safely so that nuclear plants could provide reliable, carbon-free energy to homes, hospitals and other essential businesses. In our most widely read blog of 2020, we explored what goes into a refueling outage and how plants were completing them safely. Many of our other pieces of COVID-19 content also drew substantial interest, including this message from NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick. - Small Reactor Design Approval Is a Big Deal for Carbon-Free Energy
Nuclear innovation took a step forward this summer as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff approved the first small modular reactor (SMR) design. The announcement shows that the NRC can facilitate innovative ideas, even ones that break many of the old assumptions about nuclear energy the way NuScale Power LLC’s SMR does. - With Natrium, Nuclear Can Pair Perfectly with Energy Storage and Renewables
Shortly after NuScale’s news, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $3.2 billion to support two leading advanced reactor designs. One of those projects, co-developed by TerraPower LLC and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, is called Natrium and features a new kind of nuclear reactor connected to an energy storage system. The combination allows Natrium to provide reliable electricity around-the-clock, complementing intermittent sources like wind and solar in a carbon-free future. If you’re a fan of cutting-edge nuclear technology, you can read up on the other project that won DOE funding, X-energy LLC’s Xe-100. - Looking for a Lesson Plan? Teach Your Students About Nuclear Energy
The pandemic meant that many students transitioned to homeschooling, either virtually with their school or with their parents. With many scrambling to come up with lesson plans, we decided to lend a hand. If you’re a parent or teacher with students to teach, this blogpost provides resources for all ages to learn about our nation’s number one source of carbon-free energy, from the NRC, DOE, Discovery Education and more. - NEI Recognizes Innovations Boosting Nuclear Plant Performance
Innovation in nuclear energy isn’t limited to advanced reactor developers. Nearly 100,000 workers keep our 94 nuclear plants generating reliable, carbon-free energy and they’re always looking for ways to improve operations. Every year, NEI celebrates their achievements with the Top Innovative Practice Awards. This year’s 11 winning teams brought fresh thinking to the industry with achievements as diverse as business automation, testing new fuel to improve plant performance, and using virtual reality to showcase nuclear energy as a career field for students.
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