Powering America’s Future: Nuclear Innovation at Idaho National Laboratory
A convergence of factors is driving an unparalleled nuclear energy renaissance in the United States: explosive energy demand growth driven by artificial intelligence and data centers, unprecedented private sector investment in nuclear technologies, the emergence of innovative private-sector nuclear developers, critical national security requirements for reliable baseload power, and a federal commitment to streamlining regulatory pathways. At the center of this transformation, Idaho National Laboratory is playing a pivotal role in the research, development, and demonstration of next-generation nuclear technologies.
In this presentation, Director Wagner will explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of nuclear energy, with particular emphasis on INL’s strategic research and development priorities. The seminar will highlight breakthrough technologies under development, the numerous reactor demonstration projects that are underway, relevant policy actions, and the laboratory’s unique capabilities that position it at the forefront of this movement. Additionally, Dr. Wagner will provide an overview of INL’s mission and discuss opportunities for academic collaboration and career development within the nuclear energy sector.
This seminar will offer valuable insights for students, researchers, and professionals interested in the rapidly evolving landscape of clean energy technologies and nuclear innovation.
Bio: John C. Wagner is the director of Idaho National Laboratory and president of Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC. He is responsible for management and integration of a large, multipurpose laboratory whose mission focuses on nuclear energy, national and homeland security, and energy and environment science and technology. He manages this U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory of approximately 5,200 scientists, engineers and support staff in multiple nuclear and nonnuclear experimental facilities, with an annual budget of over $1.3 billion.
Wagner began serving as INL director on Dec. 11, 2020. He has more than 20 years of experience performing research, and managing and leading research and development projects, programs and organizations. He has been at INL since 2016 and served as associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology since 2017. His previous roles included director of Domestic Programs in NS&T and director of the Technical Integration Office for the DOE-NE Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program at INL. Wagner initially joined INL as the chief scientist at the Materials and Fuels Complex in 2016.
Wagner received a B.S. in nuclear engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1992, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from The Pennsylvania State University in 1994 and 1997, respectively. Following graduate school, Wagner joined Holtec International as a principal engineer, performing criticality safety analyses and licensing activities for spent fuel storage pools and storage and transportation casks. Wagner joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as an R&D staff member in 1999, performing research in the areas of hybrid (Monte Carlo/deterministic) radiation transport methods, burnup credit criticality