494-27 - Introduction to Nuclear Power
Core/Elective: Elective
Credits: 0.5
Quarter Taught: Spring
Synopsis:
As of today, there are about 416 (fission) reactors operating worldwide, and nuclear supplies roughly 9–10% of global electricity; in the U.S., it provided about 19% in 2023. Over the last decade, nuclear power plants have been decommissioned at a faster rate than they have been built, but it’s now seeing renewed interest from corporate purchasers. For example, in 2024, Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation for nuclear energy from a previously shuttered unit at the Three Mile Island plant; Amazon said it would invest $500 million in small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs); and Google announced plans to purchase power from SMRs owned by Kairos Power. 1 Similarly, the IAEA has increased its outlook for nuclear expansion: in its “high case” scenario, global nuclear capacity could reach about 2.5× current capacity by 2050.
Given the resurgence in nuclear power, this class aims to provide students with an overview of the foundational technical, economic, regulatory and societal aspects of nuclear energy. While fusion will be covered at a high level, the course focuses on nuclear fission and will cover the basic physics of the nuclear fission process and technical topics such as controls and management of radioactivity, thermal energy and spent fuel.
The course will consider a global perspective and employs the use of case studies and reactor types used around the world. There will be a consideration of current and future lifecycle costs of nuclear energy and the course will include analysis of societal issues such as safety, NIMBYism, and nuclear proliferation. Relevant regulatory bodies will also be introduced as part of the course. This course is intended for emerging professionals who seek to develop a basic understanding of nuclear technology and the surrounding issues and opportunities.
Course Objectives:
- Build foundational understanding of nuclear power markets, including historical development, key principles of nuclear fission, key technologies (e.g., light water, non-light water, and advanced designs) and applications within power generation
- Discuss recent technological, economic and political developments and trends driving resurgent interest in nuclear energy
- Outline challenges and opportunities in scaling nuclear power (e.g., permitting, skilled labor) and key stages in project development
- Model cost / benefit analysis of nuclear power deployment considering financial and environmental impact