"In the energy transition to limit the rise in Earth's temperature to within 1.5 degrees Celsius, more nuclear power is needed. Nuclear power does not replace renewable energy but works together with it to strike a balance."

At the 2025 Gyeongnam SMR International Conference held at the Changwon Convention Center on the 28th, Chair Lee Hoe-seong of the Carbon Free Alliance, who delivered the first keynote speech, said this while emphasizing cooperation between nuclear power and renewable energy. The keynote theme was "Responding to the climate crisis and SMRs, and Korea's role for SMRs."

Lee Ho-seong, chair of the Net-Zero Alliance, gives a keynote speech at the 2025 Gyeongnam SMR International Conference at Changwon Convention Center on the 28th. /Courtesy of Lee In-a

Chair Lee served as chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 2015 to 2023 and has since become the inaugural chair of the Carbon Free Alliance. The Carbon Free Alliance is a private-led organization formed to achieve carbon neutrality by utilizing all carbon-free energy sources, including not only renewable energy but also nuclear power and hydrogen.

Lee said, "Nuclear power delivers performance similar to or better than renewable energy in terms of total carbon emissions. At COP28 (an intergovernmental conference that pledged to respond to climate change) in 2023, it was also recognized as clean energy."

Lee highlighted the advantages of small modular reactors (SMRs), which can be built faster than large nuclear plants and deployed flexibly by location. Lee said, "SMRs can supply not only electricity but also heat and hydrogen at the same time, giving them great potential, and they reduce dependence on energy imports, which is a strength for energy security."

Emy Fauilkner Lesofski (Utah Office of Energy Development) gives a keynote speech at the 2025 Gyeongnam SMR International Conference at Changwon Convention Center on the 28th. /Courtesy of Lee In-a

Emy Fauilkner Lesofski, Director General of the Utah Office of Energy Development in the United States, who delivered the second keynote address, said energy cooperation between Korea and Utah is necessary. In 2023, Utah opened the Utah Economic Development Office at the University of Incheon's Songdo campus, serving as a bridgehead for Korean corporations seeking to enter the U.S. market.

Director General Lesofski said, "From Utah's perspective, Korea, which has many key corporations in the nuclear power supply chain, is the most influential partner. Utah has streamlined systems and strong infrastructure, providing an optimal environment for clean energy pilot projects. We look forward to Korean corporations with world-class capabilities strengthening cooperation with Utah."

Connor Shin (SMR advisory member, Office of the Governor of Maryland) gives a keynote speech at the 2025 Gyeongnam SMR International Conference at Changwon Convention Center on the 28th. /Courtesy of Lee In-a

Connor Shin, SMR Adviser to the Governor of Maryland in the United States, the third speaker, explained what efforts State Governments are making to support SMR corporations. X-energy and Centrus, well-known SMR corporations, and the headquarters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are located in Maryland.

Adviser Shin said, "Maryland has sites for nuclear development and a talent cultivation system that includes the University of Maryland. We operate an integrated transport network through the Port of Baltimore and a coordination committee for efficient approval procedures, so we have a complete institutional and industrial infrastructure to attract SMRs."

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