Perhaps you remember a time in a classroom when you wondered how or when you would ever apply certain knowledge later on in life. But as you found your specific calling or a topic you were passionate about, suddenly the dots connected between concepts and reality. How to apply your knowledge to a real-world situation became clear.
As we evaluate future energy production opportunities, especially transitions to more carbon-neutral options, we rely heavily on concepts and tend to be lighter on active projects. We must demonstrate how advanced nuclear can not only power but also empower a region.
Students in nuclear fields need focused opportunities that help them connect the dots between energy solutions and what best serves a community or region based on the components that define it – from culture to economy to workforce and more. I’m happy to share the results of a recently completed student challenge called the Small Modular Reactor Microreactor Deployment or SMR Micro 2023.
Held at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in late May, SMR Micro 2023 inspired participating students from across the globe to collaborate with others in their field to evaluate the right energy solution for a community. Together, and with expert resources on hand to provide guidance, students tackled concepts and applied them to real-world and community-specific scenarios with a place-based framework for energy decisions.
The expert resources available to participants comprised leading minds from the INL and those of us affiliated with the Nuclear Energy Agency’s skill-building Nuclear Education, Skills, and Technology (NEST) initiative. Additional expertise, along with the framework I mentioned, was provided by members of the Emerging Energy Market Analysis (EMA) team.
While I say team, EMA is a collaboration of experts from the Idaho National Laboratory, University of Michigan, University of Wyoming, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Alaska, and Boise State University. The team’s expertise spans engineering and technology, social science, law, economics, natural resource policy, cultural studies, public and regulatory policy, and stakeholder engagement. EMA also includes recognized experts in regional, national, and international energy and stakeholder issues. Its approach focuses on identifying the complex intersections between technological, cultural/social acceptance, economic, and systems resilience to help determine a true, place-based value for future energy systems in transitioning and emerging markets.
In other words, we want the next generation of nuclear and energy experts to focus on what the right energy choices are based on the time, place, and community they are serving. SMR Micro 2023 helped students practice and implement this approach into their thinking.
By combining the learning opportunities provided by NEST and the innovative methodologies developed by EMA, SMR Micro 2023 offered students a unique chance to explore the future of energy and power production. By applying the EMA framework methodology to real-world challenges, students can develop a comprehensive analysis of different energy generation technologies. They can evaluate which methods are most suitable for their specific needs and goals while also considering factors like social equity and environmental impact.
One of the most exciting aspects of SMR Micro was empowering students to explore the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors offer a range of benefits over traditional large-scale nuclear power plants, including greater flexibility, enhanced safety features, and reduced environmental impact. By combining the EMA framework methodology with the potential of SMRs and other advanced energy generation methods, students will gain valuable insights that they can apply in the future.
Dots were connected.
Concepts moved closer to reality.
Most importantly, these types of events and exercises help shift our mentality for future energy transitions and ensure we help communities, and their leaders, make the most informed decisions possible. By empowering students with the skills and knowledge they need to drive innovation and progress, we can help shape a more sustainable and prosperous future for us all.
Todd Allen
Glenn F. and Gladys H. Knoll Department Chair of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
University of Michigan
[one_fourth]
[/one_fourth]