If you are preparing for an interview in the energy industry, having a set of questions you are practiced and ready to respond to will help you stand out on the interview panel. One such question that will help you really make your interviewer take notice is this: How can we increase the reach of nuclear power quickly and effectively? The industry is experiencing dramatic shifts and changes in long-time trends. Make sure you come to the table with some modern and intriguing ideas to this question to make sure you get a callback.
New Nuclear is Smart Nuclear
The nuclear energy production process today is very different than the nuclear energy of the past. Now is the time to be smart about what nuclear means for the industry and for the world. Nuclear power in South Korea is the cheapest there is. They have saved costs by picking a standardized design and building them out in a very modern, industrialized fashion. The initial investment is big, but costs are reduced the more reactors come online. The scalability of nuclear power is a real benefit to the industry and should be considered as a key influence in how the increase in reach is likely to take place.
Modular Concepts
A new, more flexible alternative is small, modular reactors. These reactors offer the advantage of scalability, lower cost, and overall flexibility. They provide a simple and efficient design, modular components, and the ability to add further modules incrementally as energy demand increases. Flexibility is offered both in the short and long term with these low-cost reactors.
Where large plants are not needed or there is a lack of infrastructure to support a large unit, these small nuclear reactors are a perfect fit for smaller electrical markets, isolated areas, and sites with limited water or acreage. They are also more conveniently paired with other energy sources, including renewables and traditional fossil fuel energy sources, to produce higher efficiency and increase grid stability and security. In short, they are a very viable option for developing countries and provide an exciting option for countries looking to reduce pollution while increasing their power production.
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is the next phase in the digitization of the industrial sector, but it has important impacts on the nuclear market as well. Following the lean revolution of the 70s, the trend toward outsourcing in the 90s, and automation in the 2000s, the latest revolution is expected to be driven by key industry disruptions such as the rise in data created and collected, computational power and connectivity, analytics and business intelligence capabilities. Connected energy production could make nuclear more readily available and help expand the reach to those who have yet not had access to reliable, affordable power. A better-connected energy market means greater reach for the industry.
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