About this Research Topic
The flexibility of nuclear refers to its ability to economically provide energy services at the time and location they are needed by end users. Besides power generation, these energy services include diverse applications (e.g., hydrogen, clean water, heating, grid storage, synthetic fuels, ammonia, and refineries) that use nuclear to work alongside industrial facilities and renewable generators. Flexible nuclear systems are ones that achieve enhanced flexibility in terms of operation, size, and product. Such systems must be inherently safe and economically attractive to strengthen the competitiveness of nuclear industry in the global energy market.
This topic aims to collect forward-thinking articles researching the flexibility and competitiveness of nuclear energy systems for both electric and nonelectric applications. We welcome all manuscript types that are either method- or concept-centric. Studies on advanced reactor designs—including Gen-IV concepts, small modular reactors, microreactors, and integrated energy systems—are particularly sought after. Innovative approaches and techniques that help to accelerate reactor development and plant optimization are encouraged. Examples include but are not limited to:
(1) artificial intelligence, digital twins, and scientific computing;
(2) advanced sensors, instrumentation, and control;
(3) multi-scale, multi-physics modeling & simulation with verification, validation & uncertainty quantification;
(4) integrated techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment.
Keywords: advanced reactor, flexible nuclear energy, integrated energy system, competitiveness, decarbonization, electric and nonelectric application
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.