Nuclear energy has long been synonymous with power plants feeding the electrical grid. But at the American Nuclear Society’s Annual Conference on June 1, a panel of experts from the Department of Energy, ExxonMobil, and several nuclear technology companies argued that the technology’s next chapter may look considerably different — spanning cargo ships, lunar bases, hospital imaging suites, and oil refineries.
Panel convenes at ANS Annual Conference to address nuclear’s expanding role
The June 1 executive session, titled “How Nuclear Technologies Will Shape the Future Energy Economy,” brought together a cross-section of industry and government voices. ANS CEO Craig Piercy moderated the discussion, which featured representatives from the Department of Energy, the Maritime Administration, ExxonMobil, Zeno Power, SHINE Technologies, and Hi Tech Solutions.
The conversation moved well beyond traditional grid power. Panelists addressed nuclear’s potential role in maritime transport, lunar infrastructure, medical diagnostics, and industrial energy — positioning advanced nuclear technology as a broad commercial enabler rather than a single-purpose electricity source.
DOE outlines goal to quadruple nuclear capacity and enable non-power applications
The Department of Energy is working under an ambitious directive. The Trump administration has set a target to grow U.S. nuclear power production from 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050 — a fourfold increase that would require substantial new deployment across multiple reactor types and scales.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Rian Bahran described the DOE’s role as that of an “enabler,” working to ensure that new nuclear technologies are accessible to industries beyond the utility sector. He pointed to the agency’s Reactor Pilot Program as a concrete example — one with a stated goal of having at least three test reactors reach criticality by July 4. Last week, Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 microreactor was the first to hit that milestone.
“Those reactors — some of the companies are eyeing data centers or electricity applications. Some of them are looking at maritime, some of them are looking at space,” Bahran said.
Maritime and lunar applications identified as near-term opportunities
MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel drew a historical parallel to make his case for nuclear-powered shipping. The development of standardized shipping containers transformed global trade by enabling supply chains to fragment and specialize. Small modular reactors, he suggested, could produce a comparable shift — particularly by making Arctic trade routes more commercially viable.
Carmel also offered a direct caution to technology developers: do not let the novelty of the technology overshadow the importance of the full system. He cited the NS Savannah, the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant vessel, as a cautionary example. Technically impressive, the ship ultimately failed to meaningfully change maritime commerce.
“What you develop is a complete system, and understand what you’re going to do,” Carmel said.
On the lunar frontier, Zeno Power is developing radioisotope power systems — nuclear batteries designed for remote, hostile environments. Chief Commercialization Officer Harsh Desai pointed to a specific gap: the United States historically lacked the capability to survive the approximately 14-day lunar night, a period when the surface receives no sunlight. China already has that capability. Zeno Power’s technology is proposed as a foundational power source for permanent American lunar base infrastructure.
Medical isotope production and industrial energy use round out nuclear’s commercial scope
SHINE Technologies, known primarily for its fusion work, has expanded into isotope production. In early 2024, the DOE conditionally committed a loan of up to $263 million to support SHINE’s construction of Chrysalis, a medical isotope production facility in Wisconsin. The facility will produce molybdenum-99, a radioactive tracer used in thousands of diagnostic medical procedures every day.
On the industrial side, ExxonMobil is a founding member of the Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium, which also includes Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell. ExxonMobil’s Greg Schulze said the consortium’s members are watching the Dow Seadrift project closely — a Texas-based initiative pairing chemical company Dow with reactor developer X-energy to deploy four Xe-100 reactors for industrial production. “We’re rooting for them. We need them to be successful,” Schulze said.
Public acceptance and utility integration remain key obstacles to deployment
Despite broad bipartisan political support for nuclear energy, Hi Tech Solutions SVP Kirt Marlow identified a persistent gap between political backing and on-the-ground deployment. Some utilities have not committed to integrating new nuclear projects. Certain communities continue to oppose reactor siting near their homes. Hi Tech has two projects underway in Utah, including the long-dormant Blue Castle power plant.
“What are the last few challenges — is it policy? Is it utility integration? What exactly are the issues we need to solve to actually get some projects built?” Marlow asked.
The panel’s overall message was clear: nuclear technology is advancing well beyond the power grid. Near-term applications range from nuclear-powered cargo ships and radioisotope systems for lunar missions to medical isotope facilities and reactor-powered industrial plants. The remaining barriers — public communication, utility buy-in, policy alignment — are as much organizational and social as they are technical.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
