NEI White Paper: Use of National Research and Development Capabilities to Increase the Capacity and Enhance the Economics of Fuels for the Existing Light Water Reactor Fleet

The existing U.S. light water reactor fleet is central to meeting national goals of increasing reliable electricity generation. This report describes how current national research and development capabilities can be used to support power uprates, capacity expansion, and improved fuel-cycle economics for the operating fleet in the near term, generally before 2035. It focuses on the national infrastructure needed to generate fuel and materials data, support licensing decisions, and deploy new or improved fuel technologies while ensuring safety and reliability.