en.Wedoany.com Reported - Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Microsoft Corporation have announced a collaboration to leverage Microsoft's Azure cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to streamline the nuclear licensing and permitting process. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy is providing funding support for this project through the National Reactor Innovation Center.
Jess Gehin, INL's Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science and Technology, stated: "This is significant for the nuclear licensing process. Introducing AI technology will improve efficiency and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies."
INL will utilize a solution developed by Microsoft based on Azure AI services to generate engineering and safety analysis reports. These reports are standard components of applications for nuclear power plant construction permits and operating licenses. For reactor developers, generating large, detailed reports is often time-consuming and expensive, requiring the compilation of safety data and language from multiple sources. The Azure AI-powered solution helps simplify and accelerate the review process.
The technology is designed to extract and analyze nuclear engineering and safety documents, generating the documentation required for nuclear licensing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). However, the tool does not analyze the documents; instead, it automatically structures licensing documents for subsequent human verification.
Heidi Kobylski, Vice President of Federal Civilian Agencies at Microsoft, said: "AI technology can automate routine processes, accelerate development timelines, and allow scientists and researchers to focus on tackling complex challenges, opening new frontiers for innovation and progress. We are honored to partner with INL to address the complex nuclear licensing process, with the potential to expedite nuclear reactor approvals to meet energy demands."
The tool can be widely applied to nuclear energy-related licensing approvals, covering new light water reactors and upgrades to existing light water reactors. The Azure AI-powered solution is particularly well-suited for the licensing of advanced reactors, whose designs, fuels, coolants, and materials often differ from traditional reactors. The technology can generate reports for any nuclear facility authorized or licensed by the NRC or DOE, including nuclear energy test facilities.
Chris Ritter, Director of INL's Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence Division, stated: "AI holds immense potential to accelerate the process of designing, licensing, and deploying new nuclear energy to meet the nation's growing energy needs. INL looks forward to conducting early research to evaluate the applicability of generative AI in the nuclear licensing domain."
It is worth noting that this latest AI tool is not the first collaboration between INL and Microsoft. In 2023, INL and nuclear engineering students from Idaho State University (ISU) utilized Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform to develop the world's first digital twin of a nuclear reactor—a virtual replica of the ISU AGN-201 reactor.
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