The EMEA Modular & UK Large Reactors 2026 (EMUL 2026) conference took place over two inspiring days in London, UK, bringing together experts to explore the full spectrum of nuclear energy development. Key discussions spanned various topics, including the deployment of Small and Advanced Modular Reactors (S/AMRs) and strategies for the large reactor market.
Kirsty Gogan, Co-Founder of TerraPraxis and Board Member of the Nuclear Innovation Research Advisory Board, delivered the opening keynote titled "Innovating for Clean Energy: Strategies for Advancing Nuclear Technology and Commercialization." In her address, she emphasized how past energy shocks shape future systems and outlined the significant challenge of substituting oil and gas with clean energy sources. Kirsty highlighted that to match the annual deliveries of a single Q-Max LNG tanker with clean hydrogen would require 1,984 km² of offshore wind or 380 km² of solar, compared to just 0.8 km² of nuclear. She illustrated that eight nuclear gigafactories on 16 km² of existing UK brownfield land could produce enough hydrogen to replace the UK's oil consumption.
Kirsty also acknowledged the challenges of scaling nuclear energy swiftly, noting that licensing has historically been a $100 million, 10-year barrier, but recent advancements have validated a 92% reduction in licensing timelines. She emphasized that with advanced reactor technologies, regulatory momentum, and digital tools, there is now an opportunity to transition from projects to products, building a more resilient, secure, and sustainable energy future.
Additionally, Kirsty participated in the panel discussion titled “Navigating Regulatory Hurdles to Support FOAK SMR Projects Globally, While Ensuring Safety and Speeding Up Local Deployment,” moderated by Dr. Donald Hoffman, President & CEO of EXCEL Services Corporation. The panel featured distinguished experts, including Sam Dumitriu, Head of Policy at Britain Remade; Mustafa Latif-Aramesh, Nuclear Taskforce Member with the Cabinet Office-Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce; and Albert Yu, Partner at Orrick, focusing on breakthrough pathways in nuclear regulation.
From technical breakthroughs to strategic investment models, the conference underscored the interconnected ecosystem required to advance safe, sustainable, and scalable nuclear solutions.
You can download Kirsty’s presentation here.