Capacity Expansion - Reports
Capacity Expansion Strategy
| Report Title | Brief Narrative | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Interpret Technical Specifications for Regulatory Knowledge Capture and Drafting License Amendment Requests, INL/RPT-25-87733 | Given the substantial energy capacity of nuclear fuel, current nuclear reactors are prime candidates for expanding electrical power output through a process known as power uprate. | Download | 09/20/2025 |
Increasing Power Generation
| Report Title | Brief Narrative | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessing the Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on Nuclear Plant Power Uprate and Hydrogen Cogeneration, INL/RPT-23-74681 | The market opportunity for power uprates and hydrogen cogeneration is emerging. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have performed power uprates since the 1970s as a cost effective option to generate increased power. Most of the currently operating U.S. nuclear plants have performed some type of power uprate. | Download | 09/20/2023 |
| Technical and Economic Considerations for Uprate of Existing Nuclear Reactors with Cogeneration, INL/EXT-24-78810 | This report assesses the impact of these uprates and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on the nuclear industry's transformation to support a decarbonized economy. Detailed market analysis reveals that opportunities for uprates exist in both regulated and merchant electricity markets, with potential disparities in demand and production capabilities across regions. | Download | 06/09/2024 |
| Technical Feasibility Assessment of PWR Core Design for Sizeable Power Uprate, INL/RPT-25-87486 | This report outlines the feasibility study conducted for a significant power uprate of a pressurized water reactor by using low 5%–10% enrichment uranium fuel at high burnup. The study focuses on the South Texas Project Unit 1 reactor and employs advanced computational tools including the PARCS, POLARIS, and RELAP5-3D codes to perform core neutron transport calculations, transient system modeling, and safety analyses of an aggressive power-uprated core. | Download | 09/25/2025 |
| The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Interpret Technical Specifications for Regulatory Knowledge Capture and Drafting License Amendment Requests, INL/RPT-25-87733 | For any procedural changes, tests, or modifications at a nuclear power plant, a detailed self-assessment must determine whether a license amendment is necessary per 10 CFR 50.59 criteria. License amendments are mandatory when changes exceed these criteria and require substantial time and effort due to extensive documentation and analysis to ensure safety. | Download | 09/22/2025 |
Safety Systems Analysis and Licensing Strategies
| Report Title | Brief Narrative | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Conceptual Design for Large-Scale Nuclear Integrated Hydrogen Production Facility, INL/RPT-24-78743 | This report develops a pre-conceptual design for a generic large-scale, 500 MWdc HTE hydrogen production facility coupled with a generic 1,200 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant. The design is comprised of three (3) parts: 1. Hydrogen production facility, 2. High-voltage switchyard, and 3. Nuclear plant integration. | Download | 06/24/2024 |
Market Assessments
| Report Title | Brief Narrative | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Conceptual Design for Large-Scale Nuclear Integrated Hydrogen Production Facility, INL/RPT-24-78743 | This report develops a pre-conceptual design for a generic large-scale, 500 MWdc HTE hydrogen production facility coupled with a generic 1,200 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant. The design is comprised of three (3) parts: 1. Hydrogen production facility, 2. High-voltage switchyard, and 3. Nuclear plant integration. | Download | 06/24/2024 |
| Guidance for Domestic Content Requirement Under the Internal Revenue Code as Applicable to Nuclear Power Uprates, INL/RPT-25-85833 | This report proposes a safe harbor implementation model, or concept, for meeting the domestic content requirements of the Clean Electricity Tax Credits as applicable to nuclear plant power uprates. Ensuring nuclear plants can meet the domestic content requirements is crucial in establishing America’s energy dominance and accelerating our path toward a more secure and independent future. | Download | 08/20/2025 |
| LWR Fleet Uprate and Capacity Expansion Opportunities, Report SL-021597 | Recent Executive Orders have called for the U.S. nuclear fleet to prioritize capacity expansion to support grid stability and demand growth. These directives call for five gigawatts (5 GWe) and 300 gigawatts (300 GWe) of nuclear capacity additions by 2030 and 2050, respectively. While new nuclear reactors are planned to account for a majority of the long-term target, thermal and efficiency power uprates can help meet this growth target near-term. | Download | 02/13/2026 |
| LWR Fleet Capacity Expansion Scenarios and Acceleration Pathways, Report SL-021967 | Three (3) scenarios are considered. Scenario 0: Base Case (5 GWe by 2030) Scenario 1: Moderately Accelerated Scenario 2: Highly Accelerated (2.5 GWe by July 2027, 5 GWe by 2029). | Download | 11/29/2025 |
| Preliminary Projections to Incentivize Nuclear Plant Uprates by 2030 presentation | Path to 5 GW: Financial Incentives Presentation. | Download | 12/20/2025 |
| Preliminary Projections to Incentivize Nuclear Plant Uprates by 2030, INL/RPT-25-89185 | The analysis in this study shows that production tax credits are the most effective for low-cost uprates, while milestone payments are the most impactful for high-cost uprates. Investment tax credits also show potential in incentivizing uprates. | Download | 12/20/2025 |