Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Designs, Technologies and Policies for 21st Century Global Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

The 21^st century is witnessing major advances in nuclear reactor technologies worldwide. Examples include small modular reactors, molten salt reactors, fast breeder reactors, thorium-fueled reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and sodium-cooled reactors. While these designs remain in various stages of development, there is anticipation that advanced nuclear reactor technologies will mature within the next two decades, when they can be deployed and brought to bear on some of the greater challenges facing the world today, particularly the challenge of meeting ever-increasing global energy demands under low-carbon constraints. This is especially applicable in emerging economies, where high-density urban populations and rapid economic development are calling for more energy, not less. These are challenges that many argue cannot be met without nuclear power.

As scientists and engineers continue to develop this promising new generation of nuclear reactors, there are issues that must be overcome before these technologies can be deployed broadly and at scale. This includes societal acceptance among both the general public and policymakers related to, among other issues, nuclear safety and security, nuclear project financing, spent fuel management, international nuclear alliances and public–private partnerships. Consequently, there is a gap between the promise of advanced reactor technologies and the deployment of advanced reactor technologies. This gap will need to be bridged by novel energy policy concepts, frameworks and alliances in order to facilitate this critical and necessary deployment.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a forum to publish work on advanced nuclear reactor designs along with creative policy approaches that can serve to span the gap between advanced reactor technologies and the large-scale deployment of these technologies. Of particular interest are contributions focused on regions looking to initiate civilian nuclear power programs, accelerate nascent programs or re-invigorate stalled programs. Therefore, papers on such topics as advanced nuclear reactors, nuclear power policy, energy policy, spent fuel management, energy and national security, nuclear export controls and international nuclear cooperation are invited to contribute to this Special Issue.

Dr. David K. Gattie
Guest Editor

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