Five teams from around the world were honoured for advancing nuclear power sustainability at the second International Network on Innovation to Support Operating Nuclear Power Plants Innovation Awards. The winners were selected from 32 submissions across 10 countries and were awarded at a ceremony on the margins of the 69th IAEA General Conference in Vienna.
“Today’s award recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation,” said Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy Mikhail Chudakov in his opening remarks at the awards ceremony. “They have demonstrated creativity, technical excellence and a commitment to improving nuclear safety and performance.”
The International Network on Innovation to Support Operating Nuclear Power Plants (ISOP) was established in 2023 to promote cross-border collaboration and continuous improvement in nuclear power. The network supports the long-term sustainability of operating nuclear power plants.
ISOP’s scope includes any deployed innovation that helps sustain nuclear power reactors as a key component of current and future energy systems. Network activities include workshops, technical reports and collaborative initiatives, including use case sharing and coordinated research projects.
Award categories included artificial intelligence, advanced instrumentation and control, advanced manufacturing, robotics and drones, and other significant innovations. All entries had to have been deployed at an operational nuclear power plant. The winning teams presented their innovations in a webcast following the awards ceremony.
Advanced Instrumentation and Control
A team from China Nuclear Power Engineering (CNPE) led the field in the advanced instrumentation and control. Their reactor containment structure monitoring technology uses fibre optic cables to provide intelligent real-time monitoring of the steel strands embedded in containment structures, one of the most vital safety features of a nuclear reactor.
“We are deeply honoured by this recognition and remain committed to advancing intelligent monitoring technology for an even safer and more sustainable future in nuclear containment,” said Yao Di, Director of CNPE’s Innovation Centre.
Advanced Manufacturing
The Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel team won in the advanced manufacturing category. They developed a debris filter for boiling water reactor fuel assemblies using additive manufacturing also known as 3D printing. This technique enabled them to produce a highly effective filter with a geometrical complexity not possible with conventional manufacturing processes.
"The additive manufacturing process opened a whole new world of design options and inspired creative thinking in my team,” said Uffe Bergmann, Chief Engineer at Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel. “The StrongHold Asset Management fuel debris filter improves operating efficiency of boiling water reactors in the nuclear fleet."
Other Significant Innovations
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) based in the United Arab Emirates stood out with its digital twin technology — an interactive virtual model — of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant designed to enable advanced training scenarios and enhance operational efficiency. This technology enables the plant to strengthen personnel training and improve reactor outage planning.
“ENEC leverages digital twin and simulator technology to modernize nuclear training, aligning with tech-savvy learners’ expectations for immersive, visual and self-guided learning experiences,” said Abdulrahman Al Jailani, Director of Strategy and Digitalization at ENEC Operations.
Robotics and Drones
A University of Bristol-based team won for its wheeled robot equipped with a Raman spectroscopy probe for in-core measurements of graphite reactor cores. This technology enables the collection of highly accurate, real-time characterization data while reducing human risk and saving time and cost.
“To keep nuclear energy competitive on cost, there is a huge opportunity to better harness robotics and advanced sensor systems to enhance operational efficiency, tackle difficult tasks and at the same time improve safety. It's great to have our robotics work recognized by the IAEA,” said Tom Scott, Head of the Hot Robotics Facility at the University of Bristol’s Interface Analysis Centre. “It is one step along the road of achieving our grand ambition of making robotic systems commonplace in the day to day running of nuclear power sites.”
Artificial Intelligence
In the artificial intelligence (AI) category, Blue Wave AI Labs won for its AI model for thermal limit predictions which was informed by a vast trove of operating data that enables it to accurately predict thermal limit parameters during reactor operation. Thermal limits are designed to, for example, prevent fuel cladding damage and radiological release during plant operations. The tool more accurately predicts margins to thermal limits, enabling operators to optimize reactor operation, fuel performance and cost.
“We are proud that Nuclear-Grade AI? from Blue Wave AI Labs was selected to receive the 2025 AI Award for our work with our partners at Constellation and Southern Nuclear," said Jonathan Nistory, Chief Operating Officer at Blue Wave Labs.
Earlier this year, the IAEA conducted a webinar series highlighting some of the innovations submitted to the 2024 ISOP Awards. The recordings are available here.