Nuclear can supply the electricity and heat needed to support sustainable industrialization

• Innovative designs allow nuclear reactors to operate in new locations and enable decarbonization in new applications beyond electricity supply. 
• High-temperature reactors will offer an alternative to fossil fuels for process heat and provide new options for hydrogen production.
• Innovations in nuclear fuel can enhance the performance of reactors in operation today.

Innovation is expanding the potential of nuclear technologies. The nuclear industry is pursuing the development of more efficient fuels that could enhance the performance of reactors currently in operation, as well as developing new reactor designs that will have a broader range of applications.

Industrial development is frequently energy-intensive. Nuclear reactors have the large output required to support such demand. In addition to the supply of electricity, high-temperature reactors will be able to replace fossil fuels as a more sustainable supply of process heat, with applications including the production of hydrogen.

New nuclear build projects support the many manufacturing companies in the supply chain that produce the components required for construction. Increasingly, new nuclear power projects are structured to support the local and host country supply chains, promoting more inclusive and sustainable industrial development. Once in operation, nuclear power plants continue to provide hundreds of high-skill employment opportunities for many decades.

Nuclear techniques can help make other industries more sustainable and safer. Nuclear non-destructive testing (NDT) is a quality-assurance procedure that helps verify the structural integrity of machines and materials without causing damage. One such technique is industrial radiography, which is used to inspect welds.

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