Barriers for Adoption and Deployment of Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems for Advanced Reactors and Existing Reactor Modernization

Digital instrumentation and control (DI&C) systems are essential for advanced reactors and modernization of existing nuclear power plants (NPPs). These systems—such as field-programmable gate arrays and programmable logic controllers—are often developed by third-party vendors and provide advanced monitoring that enhances safety, reliability, and efficiency at lower cost than legacy analog components. Digital technologies are mature, widely used in other industries, and proven to improve reliability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Despite these benefits, adoption in the nuclear sector faces major barriers, primarily uncertainties and high costs in licensing due to inconsistent regulatory requirements and lack of industry consensus on best practices. This paper presents findings from 78 stakeholder interviews on challenges and opportunities related to licensing, economics, risk methodologies, and regulatory compliance. While DI&C technologies are technically mature, inconsistent deployment strategies, economic planning issues, regulatory hurdles, and organizational debt have significantly slowed their widespread implementation.