At the Global Clean Energy Action Forum, held in Pittsburgh in September 2022, Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk chaired a roundtable discussion on “Advancing Nuclear Deployment for Global Energy Security.” The discussion aimed to identify a set of public messaging strategies for building public support for nuclear energy as a non-emitting technology. Following the roundtable, Deputy Secretary Turk released the following chair’s summary jointly with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi.
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Nearly 70 years ago, President Eisenhower addressed the United Nations General Assembly with his Atoms for Peace speech. He envisioned a world where developed nations would assist the developing world to rise from energy insecurity and energy poverty through the peaceful use of nuclear power. As governments of the world rapidly work to honor their Paris Accord commitments and achieve net-zero carbon emissions (net zero), President Eisenhower’s vision of Atoms for Peace is even more relevant through the integration of nuclear energy and traditional renewable energy solutions.
The global focus on concurrent climate and energy crises has influenced decision-makers to re-examine national postures on nuclear energy and motivated countries to develop urgent plans for nuclear energy to meet climate and energy security needs. This shift has been facilitated by successful outreach on the benefits of non-carbon-emitting nuclear power by nuclear advocates.
This renewal of interest in nuclear power as a dispatchable, clean energy source has led to an increased interest in private financing and investment in innovative technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs). Massive additional investment will be needed in technologies capable of supporting net-zero carbon emission solutions for centralized grids, small or remote communities, and islanded microgrids, while also supporting hydrogen production and delivering high-quality process heat to industry.
Expanding access to financing and new market mechanisms will be critical to facilitating innovation and education through the successful demonstration of nuclear energy for clean electricity, industry, and transportation applications. Likewise, people are the core of the nuclear industry, from the professionals who design and operate nuclear technology to the local communities that host nuclear energy facilities, so sharing and employing best practices for community engagement is crucial to realize the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies, from the siting process to local concerns about workforce development and economic impacts.
Today’s discussion between IAEA Member States, CEOs, and nongovernmental organizations was particularly fruitful, but realizing the goal of a net-zero future requires a public discussion on innovative nuclear technologies, their deployment timelines, and financial considerations. With this in mind, the IAEA and the United States are looking forward to hosting global leaders and decision-makers at the 5th International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century in Washington, D.C. on October 26-28, 2022, where public, fulsome discussions may address the challenges and opportunities for nuclear energy in our net-zero future. The conversation will continue at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, as the combined efforts of all countries represented by the United Nations work to solve the multifaceted challenges of climate change and safeguard a prosperous and just future for all peoples.