NRC Advanced Reactor Licensing Guidance

In April, 2024, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission published a new advanced reactor licensing guidance that could “significantly reduce the regulatory uncertainty” for non-light water reactors submitting construction permit and licensing applications, the NRC said. The guidance provides a detailed road map for companies submitting licensing applications for non-light water reactor technologies such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and molten salt reactors, along with internal guidance for NRC staff reviewing these applications.

The move provides some response to the LPDD recommendation that, “if advanced non-light water reactor technology will be ready, NRC may need to accelerate development of a regu­latory framework for that technology to support substantial new deployment by 2050.” (LPDD Ch. 21, p. 563)