.png)
Opening Remarks: Dato Seri Ahmad Johan Mohammad Raslan, Council Member, Climate Governance Malaysia
Remarks: Justin Friedman, Senior Advisor for Commercial Competitiveness in Nuclear Energy, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN), U.S. Department of State
Presentation:
a. Judi Greenwald, Executive Director, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
b. Datuk NK Tong (moderator)
Part 2 of Climate Governance Malaysia’s (CGM) webinar on nuclear energy and its potential role in addressing climate change and energy security took place on 9th January 2025, with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. While the first session introduced the fundamentals of nuclear energy, the second part focused on the path forward for its widespread adoption, examining the challenges and opportunities inherent in integrating nuclear energy into energy transition strategies.
Dato’ Seri Ahmad Johan Mohammad Raslan, Council Member of CGM, delivered the opening remarks, raising the escalating climate crisis in Southeast Asia. He referenced the devastating heatwaves of 2024 and the unprecedented six consecutive typhoons that struck the Philippines within a single month, inflicting severe losses on lives, livelihoods, and economies. These extreme weather events are only a preview of the worsening conditions expected as global temperatures continue to rise. Addressing this crisis demands clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions, coupled with the capacity to implement these technologies effectively and in ways tailored to local contexts.
Following the opening, Justin Friedman, Senior Advisor for Commercial Competitiveness in Nuclear Energy in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State, shared his remarks. As Malaysia and other ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Philippines explore nuclear energy as part of their energy transition strategy, it is critical that they understand the importance of informed and responsible decision-making. He introduced the U.S.-led FIRST (Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology) program, a global initiative supporting countries in evaluating nuclear options through partnerships with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and nations like Japan, Korea, Canada and the UK. He praised Malaysia’s early steps in this journey and expressed confidence in the country’s ability to make smart, collaborative decisions for its energy future while welcoming U.S. partnerships toward this venture.
Moving on to the main session, Judi Greenwald, Executive Director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, offered an in-depth exploration of the goals, conditions for success, and pathways for scaling nuclear energy to address global decarbonization and energy security. She emphasized that over 20 countries across 4 continents have pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, highlighting the technology's pivotal role in meeting commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In the United States, achieving this ambitious target requires a "whole of society" approach, with industry leading the effort, supported by government, civil society, investors, and communities. Judi outlined critical conditions for success: competitive costs, efficient market entry, public acceptance, and scalable technologies. Demonstration projects in the 2020s and commercialization in the 2030s remain the key milestones for progress. Reforming the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to streamline licensing processes and accommodate advanced nuclear technologies is a central priority, alongside ensuring high-quality industry applications to meet modernized regulatory standards.
Public-private partnerships emerged as a cornerstone for accelerating the deployment of advanced reactors. By leveraging government funding to de-risk early projects and private sector expertise to ensure market viability, these partnerships exemplify the collaborative approach needed to scale nuclear energy. Judi highlighted tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, including production, investment, and manufacturing tax credits as transformative tools for clean energy deployment, mirroring the early success of renewables in the U.S.
For countries new to nuclear energy, Judi stressed the importance of strategic engagement with the international nuclear community to build knowledge, partnerships, and capacity. Establishing a competent regulatory body, developing a robust domestic workforce, and fostering collaboration with local and international stakeholders are essential steps. Public acceptance, she noted, hinges on transparent stakeholder engagement, community consent-based siting, and comprehensive public education.
Drawing on the case study of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates, constructed in partnership with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Judi illustrated best practices for nuclear project success. Early engagement with the U.S., EU, and IAEA enabled the UAE to establish a capable nuclear regulator. The UAE also developed a domestic workforce over time to reduce reliance on international experts. In addition, a staggered construction approach from 2012 to 2024 allowed lessons learned during early construction to enhance efficiency. Adherence to the IAEA milestones approach further ensured a structured and effective development process.
Judi also highlighted the resources available to emerging nuclear countries, including financial support from the EXIM Bank, U.S. Department of Energy programs, and regulatory guidance through the NRC's international engagements. These tools provide critical support for aligning new projects with global safety and operational standards.
On the subject of costs, Judi emphasized the limitations of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) as a metric, noting that it fails to account for nuclear energy’s unique benefits such as zero carbon emissions, reliability, dispatchability, and grid services. She argued that a more appropriate comparison of nuclear costs would be with other clean firm energy sources, such as geothermal and hydropower, rather than fossil fuels. Additionally, system-wide cost analyses cited by Judi demonstrated that in deep decarbonization scenarios, integrating nuclear energy with renewables and storage significantly reduces overall electric system costs.
The value of learning by doing was another key theme, with Judi explaining that first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects are inherently more expensive. However, subsequent projects benefit from accumulated experience, workforce development, and improved efficiency, leading to significant cost reductions. Policy incentives, such as tax credits, further alleviate upfront capital costs, making early projects financially viable. As the sector matures and costs decrease through learning by doing, the reliance on these incentives diminishes, paving the way for sustainable growth in nuclear energy deployment.
Nuclear energy presents a compelling case for its role in the global energy transition, offering cost competitiveness with other clean firm resources such as hydropower and geothermal. Its ability to lower overall system costs in a decarbonized grid, particularly when paired with renewables and storage, displays its value as a reliable and dispatchable energy source. Achieving these benefits, however, requires proactive and collaborative efforts. Early engagement with international, domestic, and local stakeholders is critical to building the infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and public trust necessary for success. Additionally, the principle of learning by doing will drive significant cost reductions over time, as experience and efficiency grow with each subsequent project. Together, these factors position nuclear energy as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable, low-carbon energy systems worldwide.
Judi’s presentation was followed by an engaging Q&A session with the audience, moderated by Datuk NK Tong. The full session is available for viewing in the webinar recording.
Comments