The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Microsoft have announced a collaboration to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the nuclear power plant licensing process in the United States. This partnership aims to utilize Microsoft's Azure cloud and AI technologies to automate the generation of engineering and safety analysis reports, which are critical components of the application process for constructing and operating nuclear facilities. (publicpower.org)
Traditionally, compiling these comprehensive reports is a time-consuming and costly endeavor, requiring the integration of safety data and technical information from multiple sources. The AI-powered solution developed by Microsoft is designed to ingest and analyze nuclear engineering and safety documents, thereby automating the construction of licensing documents for subsequent human verification. This approach is expected to significantly accelerate the review process, reducing the time and expense associated with nuclear plant licensing. (nextgov.com)
The collaboration is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy through the National Reactor Innovation Center. The AI tool is anticipated to have broad applicability across various nuclear energy-related licensing scenarios, including new light water reactors and upgrades to existing facilities. It is particularly relevant for advanced reactors, which often feature different designs, fuels, coolants, and materials compared to conventional reactors typically reviewed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). (neimagazine.com)
This initiative follows President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at fast-tracking the licensing process for new nuclear power plants, with the goal of shortening the approval timeline to as little as 18 months. The integration of AI into the licensing process aligns with these efforts to meet the growing energy demands, particularly from AI-driven data centers. (reuters.com)
This partnership builds upon previous collaborations between INL and Microsoft. In 2023, they worked together with Idaho State University nuclear engineering students to develop the world's first nuclear reactor digital twin—a virtual replica of ISU's AGN-201 reactor—using Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform. (publicpower.org)
By integrating AI technologies into the nuclear licensing process, INL and Microsoft aim to enhance efficiency and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies, contributing to the nation's increasing energy needs.
Source: Post Register INL announces collaboration with Microsoft on new AI streamlining technology
