Last week, The U.S., Canada, and Japan launched a new nuclear initiative partnership called the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future or NICE Future. The launch was a side event at the Ninth Clear Energy Ministerial (CEM) taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. The primary intent of the initiated was to stimulate a discussion on innovation and advanced nuclear engineering.
The new initiative was launched by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint statement was issued which said, “The initiative will, for the first time, put the spotlight at CEM on nuclear energy in clean energy systems. The NICE Future initiative will address improved power system integration through innovative, integrated and advanced energy systems and applications, such as nuclear-renewable systems, combined uses of heat and power, hydrogen production and industrial decarbonization. It will highlight the opportunities for nuclear energy technologies to reduce emissions and air pollution from power generation, industry and end-use sectors.”
The purpose of the NICE Future initiative is to encourage discussion among the CEM attendees about how nuclear energy can help to stimulate economic growth, energy security and access, and environmental stewardship. The focus will be on innovative applications for advanced nuclear systems that will contribute to coordinated and/or integrated clean energy systems for the future.
The executive summary says that “Recognizing that not all countries see nuclear energy as part of their national approach, there remains a need for exploration of the roles that clean, innovative and advanced nuclear technologies could play in simultaneously furthering economic growth and effective environmental stewardship/ For this dialogue to be successful, it must work across sectoral boundaries to develop integrated perspectives on the complementary roles that nuclear energy could play alongside all other forms of clean energy. This activity is unique in that it addresses nuclear energy holistically within the context of broader clean energy systems, as opposed to a singular focus on specific nuclear technologies and associated issues.”
There will be a focus on full scale nuclear power for grid baseload electricity. There will also be a focus on innovative, next-generation technologies and integrated renewable clear energy systems in four areas. The four areas are: “technology evaluations of innovative energy systems and uses; engagement of policy makers and stakeholders in future energy choices; valuation, market structure and ability to finance; and, communicating nuclear energy's role in clean, integrated energy systems.”
Other countries including Argentina, Poland, Romania, Russia, the UAE and the UK have joined the initiative. More than a dozen other countries have said that they were interested in joining. International organizations such as the International Energy Agency and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency are also interested in joining.
The U.S. DoE Deputy Secretary said, “I would like to acknowledge the countries and organizations that have joined the USA, Canada and Japan in the creation and launch of the NICE Future initiative. Having nuclear included at the Clean Energy Ministerial will create greater global recognition of its many unique benefits.”
The U.S. DoE Secretary said, “Nuclear energy's vitally important but under-recognized contributions to clean air are made even greater by constant innovation. The NICE Future initiative highlights these contributions by reimagining nuclear's advanced uses and applications. Nuclear provides a cleaner, safer, more reliable and more resilient energy supply for our world.”
The Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources said “Canada is excited to be a part of this initiative. Nuclear energy is already an important part of Canada's energy mix and innovative nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, have a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. As a non-emitting source of energy, nuclear is, and will continue to be, an important part of our energy mix."\”
“I expect this initiative would bring the wisdom of the world on nuclear innovation together and contribute to policy making for realizing clean energy systems that solve challenges in each country. Our aim is to promote nuclear innovation utilizing out-of-the-box ideas from the private sector, pursuing the development of reactors with new concepts, including harmonization with renewable energy, combined with enhanced safety, efficiency and flexibility."
The World Nuclear Association Director attended the launch of the initiative at CEM. She said, “Countries will need to use nuclear energy alongside other forms of clean energy to deliver a sustainable energy mix that is affordable to all and that supports economic development. Nuclear energy is one of the most competitive low-carbon energy sources, but it needs a fair and stable energy framework to go forward. We should explore how to combine different clean technologies together.”