ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
New laws offer nuclear industry incentives for existing power plant uprates
This year, the U.S. nuclear industry received a much-needed economic boost that could help preserve operating nuclear power plants and incentivize upgrades that extend their lifespan and power output.
Signed into law in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act offers production tax credits (PTCs) for existing nuclear power plants and either PTCs or investment tax credits (ITCs) for new carbon-free generation. These credits could make power uprates—increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial plant may operate—a much more appealing option for utilities.
Ralph M. Rotty
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 90 | Number 4 | August 1985 | Pages 467-474
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE85-A18496
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The pattern of global electrification suggests that the global discharge of CO2 to the atmosphere is less, and will be increasingly less, than would be the case without the continuing shift toward use of electrical energy. Data show that the world has been moving steadily toward greater electrification. Each year electricity is used to perform a larger number of tasks, and the fraction of energy used in the form of electricity has increased whether in “good times” or in “bad times.” Scenarios that incorporate technological development, and therefore growth in electrification, yield slower growth in emissions of CO2, and consequently slower accumulation in the atmosphere. Increased world electrification slows the growth in CO2 for two reasons: 1. electrification may reduce total energy demand 2. electrification presents opportunities to supply the energy without using CO2-producing fuels. The large potential for slowing atmospheric CO2 accumulation by generating electricity with nonfossil technologies is demonstrated by the scenarios presented here.