Nuclear power has been an important contributor to the U.S. energy portfolio since the 1950s, but few nuclear reactors have been built in recent decades. Rita Baranwal, senior vice president for energy systems at Westinghouse Electric Company, provides an overview of the nuclear power industry today, talks about the emerging focus on small modular reactors as well as full-size plants, and describes the new technologies that Westinghouse is developing to support the future of low-carbon energy.

 View the transcript for this episode here.

About the guest
Rita Baranwal is senior vice president for energy systems at Westinghouse Electric Company. She is responsible for the development of the company’s new AP300 small modular reactor, which you can learn more about in this video.  Baranwal recently served as assistant secretary of nuclear energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, from July 2019 to January 2021.

About ACerS
Founded in 1898, The American Ceramic Society is the leading professional membership organization for scientists, engineers, researchers, manufacturers, plant personnel, educators, and students working with ceramics and related materials.