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Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
Challenges of microreactors
    Currently, there is limited access to the HALEU fuel suggested for some microreactor designs. HALEU is not currently available in the U.S. commercial nuclear fuel marketplace. The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has plans to support research into the development of microreactor fuel and a demonstration of microreactor technology at the DoE Idaho National Laboratory.  Some microreactor designs may have to be altered to use alternative fuels, may not be candidates for NRC certification until HALEU fuels are actually available commercially or may be ultimately found not to be viable.
    There is a greater security and proliferation risk with microreactors. If microreactors do use HALEU fuels, there are risks that would grow if microreactors are exported to many oversea locations. This transportation would increase the opportunities for theft of nuclear materials. The higher enrichment levels of HALEU fuel would certainly require greater security than conventional low enriched nuclear fuels at all facilities in the entire fuel cycle. The presence of HALEU or even higher enriched fuels would make microreactors a much more attractive target for theft or diversion into a nuclear weapons program. It would take much less work to further enrich HALEU to weapons-grade uranium.
    There are open questions with respect to the waste that might be generated by microreactors. Novel fuels might raise serious problems for the treatment and disposal of waste from microreactors as compared to the already critical problems with waste disposal for conventional reactors. Some advanced reactor designs utilize custom fuels that contain reprocessed nuclear materials that may force adjustments to waste handling employed by conventional nuclear power reactors.
    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will face challenges with respect to the certification and monitoring of microreactors. Some microreactor designs may not be covered by current regulations. It may be necessary to modify existing regulations or draft entirely new ones. Existing regulations for conventional nuclear power reactors require that control rooms be staffed on-site with the reactor. If a microreactor designer wants to have staffing off-site for control of the reactor, they would have to request a change in regulations. Also, extended design certification lead times could delay certification and deployment of microreactors.
Policy context and questions.
    Interest in microreactors is increasing in the defense and energy industries. Key microreactor technologies are not yet mature and there are some important questions that need to be considered.
• Is there sufficient demand for microreactors that would support their development and commercialization?
• What actions should the federal government initiate to regulate or improve operations of a microreactor supply chain?
• What federal government investments or regulatory changes could be made to accelerate the development and deployment of microreactors?
• What are the security, proliferation and safety risks associated with microreactors due to their increased portability and potential use of HALEU fuels? How can any risks be best dealt with?
     It will take years to determine whether or not microreactors are a viable power source that can replace current power generation technologies.