Interested contributors have until 29 February 2024 to submit abstracts for the IAEA´s International Conference on Small Modular Reactors and their Applications, to be held from 21 to 25 October 2024 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
IAEA projections estimate that electricity consumption will almost double by 2050. However, over 60 percent of global electricity generation comes from fossil fuels, the largest contributor to climate change.
As global demand for energy increases along with concerns over climate change, countries are turning to new, sustainable ways to develop their economies and support their communities. To address the challenge of powering their socioeconomic development and ensuring energy supply security while protecting the planet, more and more countries are looking to nuclear power including small modular reactors (SMRs) as a low carbon yet reliable energy source.
"This conference is a timely opportunity to gather all stakeholders involved in the development and deployment of SMRs," said Aline des Cloizeaux, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Power. "We believe that such international cooperation and exchange will help SMRs to deliver on their promise and play a critical role in decarbonizing the economy."
The conference will provide an international forum to take stock of progress and discuss the opportunities, challenges and enabling conditions for the accelerated development and deployment of safe and secure SMRs. It will bring together potential users and operators; regulatory bodies; relevant industries and technology holders; government officials; technical support organizations; representatives of international organizations; and technical and legal experts working in all areas of SMRs and nuclear power programmes.
"As advanced technologies like SMRs continue to be developed, it is essential that the safety and security of the designs are always a top priority. This conference will allow for the discussion and exploration of these issues," said Anna Bradford, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Installation Safety.
Contributors interested in submitting papers for the conference should choose one of the themes and topics listed below:
SMR Design, Technology and Fuel Cycle
Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks
Safety, Security and Safeguards
Considerations to Facilitate Deployment of SMRs
