The USA, Canada and Japan on 24 May launched the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future (NICE Future) initiative partnership at a side event during the 9th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"The initiative will, for the first time, put the spotlight at CEM on nuclear energy in clean energy systems," a statement said.
"The NICE Future initiative will address improved power system integration through innovative, integrated and advanced energy systems and applications, such as nuclear-renewable systems, combined uses of heat and power, hydrogen production and industrial decarbonisation."
It will also highlight opportunities for nuclear energy technologies to reduce emissions and air pollution from power generation, industry and end-use sectors.
NICE Future hopes to initiate discussion among CEM member countries on the role that nuclear energy can play in bolstering economic growth, energy security, and environmental stewardship. It will focus on innovative applications for advanced nuclear systems to enable coordinated and/or integrated clean energy systems of the future.
The initiative has been joined by Argentina, Poland, Romania, Russia, the UAE and the UK. Others have expressed interest in joining, as well as international organisations such as the International Energy Agency and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.
