A new snake-like inspection robot has been trialed at the Dounreay site in Scotland, UK, to survey confined spaces.

The UK, US and Canadian nuclear regulators have outlined high-level principles for deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in the nuclear sector while maintaining adequate safety and security.

Microsoft sees nuclear in the same vein as renewables for helping it to meet its clean energy goals - but currently has no intention of directly investing in its own nuclear power plants, the company's Director of Nuclear and Energy Innovation Todd Noe told World Nuclear Symposium 2024.

Westinghouse says that it believes the Hive System - a generative artificial intelligence system built on more than 100 years of its in-house expertise - "will drive improved cost and schedule through the entire reactor lifecycle from design, licensing, manufacturing, construction and operations".

Swedish lead-cooled small modular reactor technology developer Blykalla said it is participating in a new project focused on integrating SMRs with thermochemical processes to produce renewable materials, like bio-coal and bio-oil, which can then be used to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency in Sweden's steel and chemical industries.

California-based nuclear startup company Deep Fission, which is proposing to place microreactors deep underground, announced its emergence from stealth mode and a USD4 million pre-seed investment round.

In a first for the USA, the country's nuclear regulator has approved an increase in the burnup limit for Westinghouse's Encore accident tolerant fuel design, paving the way for longer and more economic fuel cycles.
 

Westinghouse has produced the first of its nuclear fuel pellets that contain higher enrichment levels than what is currently used in commercial reactors. The Low Enriched Uranium Plus Advanced Doped Pellet Technology fuel pellets are aimed at boosting both the performance and safety of nuclear power plants.

Kronos Advanced Technologies Inc and Yasheng Group have announced a strategic collaboration to develop and file a patent for a small nuclear battery powered by the decay of nickel-63. The partnership aims to address critical energy storage needs across various sectors, including remote sensing, space exploration, medical devices and military applications.

The Nuclear Company aims to redefine how large-scale nuclear infrastructure projects are delivered in the USA using proven, licensed technology in a fleet-scale model - and is taking to the road in a campaign bus to build support for its vision.

India's Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has officially granted permission for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor  at Kalpakkam to move to the next stage of the commissioning process, the First Approach to Criticality. This will include the loading of fuel into the reactor core and the start of low power physics experiments.

Natura Resources, LLC has joined the Texas Produced Water Consortium to evaluate the deployment of Natura’s liquid-fuelled molten salt reactor technology to meet energy and water needs in the Permian Basin in a partnership dubbed Fortifying the Future.