Nuclear energy: in search of a paradigm shift

The leveling-off trend in global installed nuclear power capacity together with the absence of an assured prospect of fission energy renewal, is here taken as a potential precursor to a paradigm shift in fission reactor technology. Underlying this perspective is the recognition that existing reactors are based on a rigid-fuel core configuration which has been shown to possess an intractable sensitivity to fuel melting under conceivable operational disruptions. Our analysis suggests that a fuel-in-suspension developmental initiative could-with considerable efficiency-darify a critical component substitution as a potential factor in nuclear energy renewaL