Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing The World Experts On Nuclear Energy

In this episode, we discuss... How Steven Freel began work in the nuclear industry building nuclear control room simulators Steven’s path through the nuclear industry, including his time at startup companies like Singer Link (now GSE Systems) How Steven’s unconventional approach to leadership helped spotlight him for CEO of Studsvik Scandpower Ways in which Studsvik Scandpower is changing how fuel is chosen and managed at power plants The divisions of Studsvik and ways in which the company’s new software technologies are making power plants more efficient Steven’s vision for the future of nuclear and what it will take to change public perception

In this episode we discuss... Joshua Goldstein’s background as an environmentalist and politician Sweden’s successful build-up of nuclear power and lessons learned from Germany’s build-up of renewable power How to normalize nuclear energy by educating the public on its risks and benefits Future global energy demand and the necessity of nuclear energy Promotion of global decarbonization with a nuclear power backbone Impacts of marketing in developing public perceptions of different energy sources Creating a smarter economy to solve climate change Goals of the Nuclear Energy Modernization Act for future reactor licensing

In this episode we discuss... The renewed enthusiasm by vendors and contractors for nuclear power in the Americas Why public perception needs to improve to make nuclear power a viable option in some areas Advancements in structural analysis techniques allow for more robust plant designs How younger engineers and Puerto Ricans are impacting the nuclear industry in a positive way Why United States nuclear industry leaders are relied upon to advance nuclear interests worldwide How SMRs offer opportunities to advance nuclear power generation in the U.S. and worldwide How SMR design allows for core cooling without reliance on external power sources Ways in which Puerto Rico could implement SMRs to meet their energy needs

In this episode we discuss... Rex’s academic background & background at NASA Rex’s focus at Teledyne Technologies How Rex transitioned to nuclear BWXT’s role supporting US Navy Market innovation at BWXT Technology innovation at BWXT Other clients of BWXT Future of nuclear energy in U.S.

In this episode we discuss... Susan Eisenhower on growing up as the granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower The origins of her fascination with US-Soviet relations How her career began in corporate strategic marketing and took her to arms control and nuclear energy The Megatons to Megawatts Program The benefits of a cross-disciplinary approach to problem-solving How nuclear energy makes the world not just cleaner, but safer Why policymakers need a better strategy for international relations, for nuclear energy, and for climate change What it will take to make headway on climate change

In this episode we discuss... Philip Sharp’s entrance into politics and energy policy Significant changes in the energy industry in the 1970s and 80s Environmental regulation vs. economic regulation Sharp’s accomplishments in Congress The role of educational institutions such as Harvard in energy The overall role of RFF Sharp’s research with RFF The future of energy policy in the US and the world

In this episode we discuss... Lessons learned from the Three-Mile Island accident The importance of information sharing among the nuclear industry to increase safety Refocusing of priorities regarding the NRC’s regulatory responsibilities Post 9/11 refocusing on safety and robust engineering Implementing lessons learned from the Fukushima accident Functions of the NRC and reactions to recent events Collaboration among countries and joint research projects are beneficial to the nuclear industry Prospects for the future of the nuclear industry

In this episode we discuss... Mark Lewis’ career trajectory in finance and energy as Head of Global Business Development at General Electric and Chief Business Officer at Tri Alpha Energy Mark Lewis’ work acquiring Amersham, Silex, and Hitachi Nuclear Energy for General Electric How Tri Alpha Energy radiation-free fuel path uses hydrogen and boron for nuclear fusion Nuclear fusion efforts to provide a large firm load of carbon-free and radiation-free energy Driven by natural disasters, the focus on micro grids and the need for grid resiliency and lower carbon energy Tri Alpha Energy’s use of plasma physics and accelerator physics to stabilize plasma in nuclear fusion How terrestrial fusion and plasma physics can be used to provide carbon-free energy How to finance a lower carbon economy with wind, solar, and nuclear power

In this episode we discuss... Bob’s background in fusion and personal journey in the nuclear industry Bob’s day-to-day as Chief Executive Officer at Commonwealth Fusion Systems Bob’s graduate work at MIT researching new technologies to solve fundamental challenges with fusion Superconductors, their applications, and how Bob has significantly contributed to their productization The mechanisms that enable superconductors to operate at very high temperatures Why only 3 of over 100,000 superconductors have been commercialized How collaboration between academics and industrialists is helping to drive fusion technology into the marketplace Bob’s mission to expedite superconductivity commercialization so that it can be deployed globally

In this episode we discuss... Dennis’ background and personal journey in the nuclear industry A deep dive into tokamaks and their innerworkings The definition of a plasma Why heat and density are crucial to successful fusion and the material challenges involved How tritium is extracted from lithium Requirements to prevent coolant itself from becoming radioactive Design challenges surrounding fusion systems including pumps and their inability to distinguish between helium and unburned fuel The physics of magnetism Dennis’ mission to change the global nuclear industry through his work at MIT to make fusion economically viable

In this episode we discuss... Jacopo’s background in techno-economic analysis and personal journey in the nuclear industry Jacopo’s work at the Idaho National Laboratory before he returned to his alma mater MIT as a professor of nuclear science and engineering Lead-bismuth reactors and the processes within Jacopo’s contributions to MIT Energy Initiative’s recent report, “The Future of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World” Why Jacopo believes when it comes to reducing cost we should focus on improving construction methods rather than changing coolant or fuel A breakdown of the costs involved in building a new plant Inaccuracies in cost prediction surrounding AP-1000 and EPR and ways in which we can improve cost prediction The benefits of assembling several microreactors to take advantage of economies of multiple versus economics of scale of size Shipyard building and how Jacopo’s research at MIT works to reduce construction costs

In this episode we discuss... Mark’s background in biology and personal journey in the nuclear industry A behind the scenes look at the Canada Nuclear Laboratory team and how each department coordinates with the others The lifecycle of nuclear plants and Mark’s evolution from repairing to decommissioning plants The decommissioning of Rocky Flats Plant, a nuclear weapons production facility that now serves as a model for other decommissioning projects The cleanup processes involved in decommissioning Mark’s work with British Nuclear Fuels Limited and then later as Chief Nuclear Officer for Magnox South Chalk River Laboratories and its important place in nuclear history Challenges with media and public perception surrounding nuclear energy and weapons A deep dive into CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) reactors The benefits of SMRs and Canada Nuclear Lab’s mission to facilitate global implementation

In this episode we discuss... Rosaura’s interest in nuclear from a young age and her journey through the industry Rosaura’s PhD in material science at McMaster University where she focused on ceramics processing A deep dive into the importance of ceramics processing in regards to creating nuclear fuel Magnetic shape memory alloys Challenges associated with fuel processing and manufacturing and how Canada Nuclear Labs is working to overcome them What drives requirements for creating new fuel from spent fuel and the economics involved Canada Nuclear Lab’s research regarding new fuels and their increased safety The ratio of plutonium-239 and plutonium-240 and how it changes over fuel’s lifespan within a reactor The importance of waste management technology to nuclear success

In this episode we discuss... Metin’s background in mechanical engineering and personal journey in the nuclear industry A deep dive into CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) reactors The inner mechanisms that cause steam reactor tubes to fail and how we’ve overcome this issue Metin’s work in thermal performance and degradation studies The neutronics and safety systems in PWRs and BDWs versus those in light water reactors A breakdown of supercritical water How technologies and designs within supercritical coal plants could potentially be recycled to create supercritical nuclear plants Lessons learned from light and heavy water reactors and how Canada Nuclear Labs is applying those lessons to new technologies The Pan-Canadian SMR Initiative and its mission to facilitate global implementation

In this episode we discuss... Corey’s background in nuclear engineering and personal journey from Los Alamos to Canada Nuclear Labs The history of US nuclear including the Nuclear Renaissance and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Corey’s contributions to nuclear startup NuScale Power Challenges in nuclear across India and Asia including infrastructure, training, and corruption Corey’s work for an electrical supplier of cabling and the safety systems involved International issues with CFSI (Counterfeit Fraudulent Suspect Items) and their toll on public trust Canada Nuclear Lab’s world class hot cells The future of Canada Nuclear Lab and its work surrounding light water reactors and sustainability A deep dive into fuel qualification Canada’s new build market and the significant role it plays in the global industry

In this episode we discuss... Kathryn’s background in nuclear engineering and personal journey in the nuclear industry The evolution of fusion and a deep dive into liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics Kathryn’s work with liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics in the Soviet Union A deep dive into volatilization The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative aka The Fuel Cycle R&D Program and Kathryn’s work optimizing the backend of the fuel cycle Low level waste repositories and the political challenges surrounding new repository sites Canada Nuclear Lab’s mission to promote SMR’s (small modular reactors) How a healthy dynamic between national laboratories and the industry can spur implementation Canada Nuclear Lab’s work in the hydrogen space Canada versus US regulation timelines and alternative paths to expedite licensing Canada Nuclear Lab’s research surrounding radiation and targeted alpha therapy and their potential impact on the industry at large

In this episode we discuss... Janice Dunn Lee’s 40-year journey through nuclear from her position in Export Licensing at the NRC to that of Deputy Director General at the IAEA Janice’s early career in Export Licensing at the NRC including her work preventing the weaponization of nuclear materials and reactors through IAEA safeguards The relationship between Congress and the NRC and the ways in which Congress oversees build and appropriations Intricacies of international nuclear agreements including 123 agreements for nuclear cooperation between the US, Japan, and China The importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements in helping countries learn the regulations, inspection processes, and licensing in other countries The decline of U.S. leadership in the nuclear field against Russia and China and the negative effects this could pose for the industry’s future Humanitarian aspects of nuclear and the IAEA’s work in human health including cancer therapy and ebola prevention How credible, relevant

In this episode we discuss... Ed’s background in the US Navy and his personal journey in the nuclear industry Ed’s work designing nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and space crafts for the Navy General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls and their respective roles in nuclear construction Uranium hexafluoride gas reactors and the processes within Nuclear opponents and their negative effects on the construction and licensing processes How the US nuclear industry is working to overcome supply chain challenges including replacing medium enriched uranium with plutonium Table salt’s important role in recycling spent fuels The economics of fuel storage A deep dive into fuel and reactor lifetimes The plant Ed envisions including its total power output and the regulatory and financial hurdles involved

In this episode we discuss... Jarret’s background in journalism and his personal path in the nuclear industry How writing about nuclear has evolved over the last few decades Key policy measures that helped to define the nuclear industry Different nuclear content audiences and stakeholders and their unique communication needs Challenges of writing about nuclear at a private entity Importance of portfolio strategies and diversification of energy sources Challenges of non-standard measurements when writing about fuel cycles Driving new communication strategies within the nuclear industry A deep dive into media tactics in nuclear industry communications Balancing decreasing trends in energy consumption with drive for industry growth IAEA and international nuclear audience communication needs