Modernizing nuclear licensing to expedite advanced reactor deployment
As the nuclear energy landscape evolves, so must the rules that govern it. Advanced reactors promise safer, more efficient, and more flexible energy, but complex licensing processes can slow their deployment. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are working with government and industry partners to modernize these regulations so new reactors can reach the grid faster while maintaining the highest safety standards.
One major challenge is regulatory uncertainty, especially when applying existing rules to new design concepts. Without clear regulatory guidance, developers can face delays and higher costs. Argonne researchers are addressing this challenge by developing risk-informed, performance-based approaches. These methods use realistic estimates of risk to focus regulatory reviews on those items of highest importance for safety, rather than requiring compliance with a long list of prescriptive rules. Similarly, performance-based approaches provide high-level criteria to ensure safety, while giving engineers room to innovate on specific implementation for their design.
Seismic safety is one area where this work is making a difference. Argonne has developed a risk-informed method for demonstrating the adequacy of the seismic design of nuclear power plants during licensing review. The approach helps designers maintain safety margins even under extreme conditions and large uncertainties for very rare seismic events.
Fire protection is another key area. For sodium-cooled reactors, which use liquid sodium metal to carry heat away from the core, Argonne scientists are leading an effort to update an industry fire protection standard known as ANS-54.8. The modernized standard will give developers and regulators clearer, risk-informed guidance for designing, evaluating, and safely operating sodium systems, helping to streamline licensing and strengthen confidence in advanced reactor technologies.
Emergency planning is also equally important. Argonne researchers have created a risk-informed approach to determining emergency planning zones, the areas around a reactor where planners prepare for unlikely accidents. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all radius for all reactor types, the new method tailors the zone to each design and site. That helps communities and operators focus emergency resources where they are most needed, protecting public health and safety without placing unnecessary burdens on reactor operators.
Argonne is also exploring how artificial intelligence can make the regulatory process more efficient. One new tool, called the AI Regulatory Context Protocol (RCP), is designed to support secure and well-documented communication between AI agents representing reactor vendors and regulators. In the future, this kind of “digital express lane” could help reviewers find the information they need to ensure the design meets regulatory requirements, without time-consuming transmittals of questions and responses with the vendor.
Argonne’s work extends beyond individual projects. As part of a multi-lab team supported by the DOE, Argonne reviews draft regulatory documents from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and proposals from industry. This collaboration helps ensure that new rules are informed by the latest research and the technical experts at the national laboratories.
The potential impact is significant. By aligning safety requirements with the actual risks of each facility and reducing review timelines, Argonne and its partners are helping clear the way for a new era of nuclear energy. These efforts support the deployment of advanced reactors, bolster public trust in the safety and reliability of nuclear technologies and reflect Argonne’s role in providing science at scale for national energy decisions.
Looking ahead, Argonne is partnering with Idaho, Oak Ridge, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories to expand this work. Current projects include simplifying the process for moving reactors from DOE oversight to Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing and exploring pathways for siting advanced reactors across wider geographic areas. Together, these efforts will help advanced reactors play a bigger role in meeting growing energy needs while supporting a more reliable power system.