Microsoft and Idaho National Laboratory use AI to accelerate nuclear licensing
Microsoft has partnered with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop artificial intelligence technology that could dramatically speed up the nuclear reactor licensing process in the United States.
The collaboration will utilise Microsoft's Azure cloud platform and AI services to streamline the creation of engineering and safety analysis reports, critical documents required for nuclear power plant construction permits and operating licences.
Currently, generating these comprehensive reports is an extraordinarily time-consuming and expensive process for reactor developers, who must compile safety data and technical language from numerous sources. The new AI-powered solution aims to automate much of this documentation construction, though human verification will remain essential.
"This is a big deal for the nuclear licensing process," said Jess Gehin, Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science and Technology at INL. "Introducing AI technologies will enhance efficiency and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies."
The technology is designed to ingest and analyse nuclear engineering and safety documents, then generate the documentation required by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Department of Energy for licensing applications. Crucially, the tool does not perform technical analyses but rather automates the assembly of licensing documents.
Heidi Kobylski, Microsoft's Vice President for Federal Civilian Agencies, emphasised the broader potential: "Artificial intelligence technologies can enable a new frontier of innovation by automating routine processes, accelerating development and freeing scientists and researchers to focus on the real complex challenges affecting our society."
The solution has wide applicability across nuclear energy licensing, including new light water reactors and upgrades to existing facilities. It could prove particularly valuable for advanced reactors, which often feature different designs, fuels, coolants and materials compared to conventional reactors typically reviewed by regulators.
The US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy provided funding for the project through the National Reactor Innovation Center. This marks the second collaboration between Microsoft and INL, following their 2023 development of the world's first nuclear reactor digital twin using Azure cloud computing.
The initiative comes as the US seeks to expand nuclear energy capacity to meet growing electricity demands whilst maintaining rigorous safety standards.
