Events accompanying the 68th General Conference of the International Nuclear Energy Agency

The IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy will host the regular Operators Forum and four side events during the 68th IAEA General Conference, to be held in Vienna from 16 to 20 September 2024. The Department will also host four ESPACE events. The programs of the side events will be published on this website as they become available.

Nuclear Operators Forum: Pioneering AI Application Implementation in Nuclear Power Plants

Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up new opportunities to improve nuclear power plant efficiency and human productivity. AI has the potential to drive new technologies that will transform nuclear power plant operations and achieve our net-zero emissions goals. Featuring research on AI implementation around the world, these panels will consider the transformative potential of AI to shape the future of nuclear power and provide valuable perspectives on the impact AI is already having on our industry.

The event will take place TuesdaySeptember 17, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in conference room CR3, building C, seventh floor.

SMR Platform: Progress in Microreactor Nuclear Technology Development

The small size of microreactors, a subcategory of small modular reactors (SMRs), belies the enormous impact they could have on future energy systems. Although they generate relatively little power, typically not exceeding 20 MW(e), microreactors can meet the challenge of powering remote sites and communities and can be used in a wide range of non-electrical applications. This event will look at the current state of microreactor technology, including offshore nuclear power plants, and explore the prospects and challenges for near-term implementation. The event will also showcase the IAEA’s Advanced Reactor Information System and updates from the SMR platform.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in conference room CR4, building C, seventh floor.

Building the Future Global Nuclear Workforce Through Exchange and Practice: The Lise Meitner Program and Beyond

Preparing for the clean energy world of tomorrow means training the next generation of professionals today. With its strong suite of capacity-building initiatives, the IAEA is ready to help. The event will showcase programmes that contribute to the development of the future nuclear workforce, including advisory services, training courses and Lise Meitner programmes. The Open-source Nuclear Codes for Reactor Analysis (ONCORE) collaborative framework for simulation tools will also be in the spotlight, as success stories from these and other initiatives will be shared.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in conference room M6, building M, ground floor.

Powering the Future with Atoms4NetZero

Planning is the foundation of all successful ventures, and the drive towards net zero emissions is no exception. Energy modeling can help lead the way.

This event will explore lessons learned from national energy modeling studies on clean energy transitions around the world and highlight how the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Atoms4NetZero initiative can help countries achieve their net-zero emissions goals with nuclear power. Energy modeling can inform long-term energy plans. Experts and stakeholders will present lessons learned and help illustrate how to foster cross-regional cooperation towards a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in conference room CR3, building C, seventh floor.

Exchange of experiences of communities hosting nuclear facilities

Transparency and open dialogue with stakeholders are essential to the long-term sustainability of nuclear power programs. As hosts or potential hosts of nuclear facilities, local stakeholders play a unique role in nuclear power programs. Although local contexts vary, host communities share a spectrum of concerns, needs, and values. Addressing these concerns and needs is the cornerstone of collaboration and trust throughout the life cycle of nuclear facilities. This side event will explore what it means to be a local stakeholder and how communities can work with other stakeholders, including governments and the nuclear industry, to enable the success of nuclear projects.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in conference room D, building C, fourth floor.

Espace Events

Planning for the management of spent research reactor fuel and unused sealed radioactive sources for Member States without nuclear power plants: BRIDE and DSIDES

With several options, including recycling and final disposal, deciding how to manage spent research reactor fuel and unused sealed radioactive sources can be difficult. Whichever path a country chooses, it is important to fully understand the costs and effort required as early as possible in the process. This event will show why this is the case and explain how IAEA tools, including BRIDE and DSIDES, can support the decision-making process.

The event will take place TuesdaySeptember 17, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at ESPACE M0E, building M, ground floor.

Innovative technologies for nuclear information management

The event will discuss current and anticipated applications of machine learning and related technologies in handling nuclear information. An illustration of current use will be provided by the NADIA INIS project, which is used in the categorization and indexing of scientific papers. In addition, discussions will be extended to potential applications of NADIA (and similar technologies) beyond the scope of the IAEA. Future perspectives will also be explored, including advanced techniques such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and critical assessments of the limitations and considerations of current LLM models.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at ESPACE M01, building M, first floor.

Enhanced support for Member States to conduct self-assessments of their nuclear energy infrastructure

For countries considering or initiating nuclear power programs, conducting self-assessments can be a tedious – but critical – process. The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) service is an effective way to identify areas of infrastructure requiring further development. Conducting a well-documented self-assessment has proven to be a challenge for many countries among the 37 INIR missions conducted to date. During this ESPACE event, IAEA experts will present the development of an improved approach designed to support the self-assessment process with improved guidance.

The event will take place WednesdaySeptember 18, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at ESPACE M01, building M, first floor.

Nuclear Energy Financing for the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

The event will highlight lessons from the 2024 edition of Climate Change and Nuclear Power, including key risks investors face when financing nuclear projects and characteristics of programs that have achieved construction and cost predictability. The presentation will include examples of approaches to financing the construction of large reactors and SMRs, as well as extending the life of existing plants and special considerations for emerging markets and developing economies.

The event will take place ThursdaySeptember 19, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in ESPACE M01, building M, first floor.

More information about previous General Conferences of the International Atomic Energy Agency can be found in the General Conference Archives.