AI Successfully Accelerates Nuclear License Application Process
The Department of Energy, in partnership with two of the U.S. national laboratories and several private sector companies, is using artificial intelligence to streamline the nuclear regulatory process (DOE).
What’s going on: The DOE, Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Lab, Microsoft and Everstar “used AI mapping to convert a safety analysis document required under DOE’s authorization pathway for advanced reactor demonstrations into U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing documents for commercial deployment.”
- The DOE used Everstar’s Gordian AI, created on Microsoft’s Azure platform, to convert an agency safety analysis “into sections equivalent to an NRC license application.”
- The AI prompt generated a 208-page document—which normally takes a team of people from four to six weeks to create—in just one day.
Checking its work: The document was evaluated by an expert and “found to demonstrate quality, rigor, and depth, as well as the tool’s ability to identify and qualify its own gaps in data knowledge.”
Why it’s important: “The … test case is the latest in a growing list of examples that successfully demonstrates the role AI can play in improving the process.”
Other demonstrations: INL and Microsoft recently joined forces on a related undertaking “to show how advanced AI models can generate engineering and safety analysis reports, a key part of applications for construction permits and operating licenses for nuclear power plants.”
The NAM’s take: “Anything that can safely speed up the regulatory process to get reliable, abundant energy online sooner is a boon to the U.S. and our allies,” said NAM Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy Mike Davin.
- “Safety is paramount to manufacturers.”
NAM in the News
- PBS Charlotte aired a segment on the NAM’s stop in North Carolina on the NAM State of Manufacturing Tour. The segment featured NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons and Siemens President of North America Matt Neal discussing job opportunities created by Siemens Energy.
- Tax Notes covered the NAM’s coalition letter to the Department of Treasury on the R&D tax credit in H.R. 1.