For countries to sharply reduce carbon emissions while also meeting the increasing demand for electrical energy, it’s widely recognized that nuclear power needs to be part of the solution.

Next-generation advanced nuclear reactors promise to compete economically with natural gas. These advanced reactor technologies are safer and more efficient than the conventional light water reactors operating today.

However, for advanced nuclear reactors to make an impact on cutting carbon emissions fast enough to stem climate change, the advanced nuclear sector and government need to work together to develop and deploy the next generation of reactors at a more rapid pace, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering Physics Assistant Professor Raluca Scarlat.