Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear power plants provide large amounts of low-carbon electricity. But the expense of running these plants has made it difficult for them to stay open. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are building systems that could make nuclear energy more competitive using artificial intelligence. Argonne is midway through a $1 million, three-year project to explore how smart, computerized systems could change the economics. Funded by the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies program, the project aims to create a computer architecture that could detect problems early and recommend appropriate actions to human operators.

Argonne scientists are building systems to streamline operations and maintenance at reactors. Nuclear power plants provide large amounts of electricity without releasing planet-warming pollution. But the expense of running these plants has made it difficult for them to stay open. If nuclear is to play a role in the U.S. clean energy economy, costs must come down. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are devising systems that could make nuclear energy more competitive using artificial intelligence.

LEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nuclear power plants provide large amounts of electricity without releasing planet-warming pollution. But the expense of running these plants has made it difficult for them to stay open. If nuclear is to play a role in the U.S. clean energy economy, costs must come down. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are devising systems that could make nuclear energy more competitive using artificial intelligence. Nuclear power plants are expensive in part because they demand constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure consistent power flow and safety.

Nuclear power plants provide large amounts of electricity without releasing planet-warming pollution. But the expense of running these plants has made it difficult for them to stay open. If nuclear is to play a role in the U.S. clean energy economy, costs must come down. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are devising systems that could make nuclear energy more competitive using artificial intelligence. Nuclear power plants are expensive in part because they demand constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure consistent power flow and safety.