The head of the Washington-based Nuclear Energy Institute lobby group has called on policymakers and executives to back up their pledges for the development of new nuclear technologies by making commitments to advanced reactors as part of their energy plans.

In remarks at the NEI’s State of the Nuclear Energy Industry event, Maria Korsnick said: “Now we have to move beyond understanding and interest to action.” She said nuclear energy “is the key to making our climate commitments work” and to meet the challenge of decarbonisation “we need to move the next generation of nuclear rapidly from design to demonstration to build”.

Ms Korsnick said technologies such as small modular reactors, microreactors and other advanced designs will make nuclear even more efficient, even more affordable, and even more versatile. These reactors will come in different sizes and designs. They will be able to change their output, pairing perfectly with more variable sources such as wind and solar.