Risk-informed and performance-based approaches are increasingly vital for strengthening nuclear safety while improving the economic viability of both operating reactors and new nuclear deployments. This PSAM panel session will explore how probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) enables technically sound, risk-informed applications that support regulatory decision-making and deliver meaningful cost savings without compromising safety.

By quantifying plant risk and evaluating overall consequences, PSA provides a robust basis for assessing the necessity and effectiveness of regulatory requirements. In some cases, risk insights demonstrate that certain requirements contribute minimally to safety, and that modifying or eliminating them results in negligible or extremely low increases in risk. For operating plants, such flexibility can reduce operational burdens, support power uprates, and generate significant cost savings.

For new reactor deployments, the benefits are even greater. Applying risk insights early in the design process allows for more focused, safety-significant design decisions, reducing unnecessary complexity and lowering capital costs. The panel will discuss practical examples, regulatory perspectives, and the role of PSA in enabling a modern, efficient, and safety-focused nuclear industry.