Competition from natural gas and renewable energy has dramatically lowered interest in new nuclear energy development in recent years. Now, the industry is branching into capabilities outside of electricity generation, such as supplying zero-emission thermal power to industrial users, according to Utility Dive.
Researchers are looking at ways the resource could be used to meet thermal power needs for large industrial purposes, especially in applications that require high heat like asphalt production.
Another possibility – using waste heat and unused generation to produce hydrogen.