Blog Post

More than 20 years ago, when I joined the nuclear power field, I couldn’t imagine it would be a calling leading to innovative nuclear power development. This industry has been a part of my entire adult life and I love it. I have met and continue to meet some of the most intelligent, inspirational, and motivated people I could have ever imagined. I have more mentors than I can count or credit. Nuclear power isn’t just a career, it’s a service to the legacy of humanity. It’s a building block to advancing us into our planet’s future and eventually into exploring other worlds.

The Current State of Innovative Nuclear Power Development

Back in its infancy, nuclear power was surrounded by the latest and best technology available. Where the technology was not available, it was developed at a rapid pace to ensure that we could safely and efficiently harness the power of the atom. The excitement from the public and the support of national governments was equal to the promise of nearly free energy that nuclear power could provide.

Embracing Change for a Brighter Future

Then, we witnessed a lull in innovative nuclear power development, as our focus shifted to paperwork and administration. Major nuclear disasters in the United States, the former Soviet Union, and Japan were the main reasons. Although these disasters demanded a refocus on safety, an inappropriate shift away from innovation in our industry took place. Innovation in technology is also critical to safe nuclear operations. While our industry has tried to bring innovation back, we still have a long way to go.

If you have been to a nuclear industry conference in the past five years, you probably heard the word “innovation” more than 50 times at each event. There is even a good chance that the word was in the title of the conference. We are seeing all the same presentation slides and the same calls to action. But are we seeing real innovative change in our industry?

Seventeen years ago, I left the John C Stennis. That nuclear aircraft carrier, commissioned in the mid-90s, had all–digital systems except for an analog feedwater system. Imagine my surprise when I went to work at my first commercial nuclear station and every major operating system was 1960s analog technology. Just a few years ago, I saw a training class being conducted using an overhead projector. I am not referring to the digital projector that hangs from the ceiling; I mean the one you cart around that uses mirrors and a light bulb to project a small fuzzy image through a transparent sheet of plastic.

We failed to innovate for so long that the technology gap is now immense. Innovative upgrades now require a complete change in the way we do business. More bravery from our industry leaders and regulators is now needed to support and approve innovative solutions. The change management plan to implement any new technology should always be robust. However, except for a few small examples in our industry, it is nearly impossible due to the cultural resistance to change.

It is unfortunate that a financial squeeze in our industry had finally forced us to insert the word “innovation” back into our vernacular. Innovation should have been part of our journey all along. Now, the mental organizational changes required to implement the newest technologies are larger than actual hardware or software changes. We are in a situation where our up-and-coming workforce is demanding innovative changes to improve performance, safety, and quality of life. Some industry leaders are listening to them, but not enough.

We need to stop talking about innovation and have the bravery to start doing it. It requires strength and commitment to implement innovative solutions against the deep-rooted emotional and mental barriers to change in our industry. Henry Ford notoriously stated, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” Due to the prolonged lack of innovative focus in our industry, we do not need faster horses — we need spaceships. Let’s stop patting ourselves on the backs for all the talk around innovation and realize that our industry still is not committed to it.

When we truly choose to embrace change, when we have the strength to overcome decades of cultural status quo, when we learn again what the word “innovation” truly means, then we will realize our promise and charter to advance humanity into the future.