Deep Dive Season 1: Nuclear Energy | Episode 3 - "Digital is No Longer a Four-Letter Word" | Control Systems Expert Ryan Marcum on Advanced Reactors, The Digital Evolution, and AI's Role in Nuclear

The Diligent Observer Podcast

Today's episode explores three ideas that caught my attention:

1. Demonstration Reactors are MVPs for Nuclear Energy - These reactors are 1/100 - 1/10 the size of a commercial scale reactor, and enable advanced reactor designs to be proven out from a technical and regulatory perspective with substantially lower cost than a full-scale reactor. Genius.
2. Timelines are Long, but (Maybe?) Getting Shorter - 10ish years is a good ballpark timeline from idea to commercial scale. That’s a long time, but it used to be 20. Pioneers like Nuscale are “taking the lumps” to help shorten that timeframe.
3. Underhyped: building more of the reactor designs we already know and understand. All the attention these days is going toward sexy new advanced reactor designs, but Ryan hinted at a theme that has been surfacing in many of these interviews: we need more reps with current tech.

I explore these ideas and more with Ryan Marcum, Principal Consultant at I&C Operative. Since 2016, he has been at the forefront of streamlining licensing processes for research and demonstration reactors, leveraging their inherently safe features to accelerate development. His unique perspective bridges the gap between traditional nuclear operations and emerging digital technologies, making him a valuable voice in the industry's ongoing evolution.

During our conversation, Ryan shares:

• Why demonstration reactors at universities are becoming a crucial proving ground for next-generation nuclear technologies.
• How the modularity of new reactor designs is fundamentally changing control center operations and creating opportunities for efficiency at scale.
• The reality of nuclear waste management that challenges public perception, supported by shocking data about waste volume and storage requirements.

⚛️ The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook

This episode is part of a special 5-part season on nuclear energy investing. Want to go deeper? Pre-order The Nuclear Energy Investing Playbook: An Angel's Guide.

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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Current Exciting Developments in Nuclear I&C (00:01:36)

3. Understanding Advanced Reactors (00:02:51)

4. Demonstration Reactors and Licensing (00:04:59)

5. Molten Salt Reactors: A Case Study (00:07:41)

6. Challenges and Timelines for Advanced Reactors (00:11:40)

7. Key Players in the Advanced Reactor Space (00:13:41)

8. The Buzz Around Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) (00:15:56)

9. Digital Transformation in Nuclear (00:22:36)

10. The Role of AI in Nuclear Operations (00:28:56)