Nuclear Energy

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has received shipments of disused radium-226 sources from the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, which will be recycled to produce actinium-225 to be used in targeted radiotherapy.

The arrangement is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) Global Radium-226 Management Initiative, which aims to connect countries who have old radiotherapy sources with other countries interested in recycling or reusing them.

According to the IAEA: "Radium-226, discovered in 1898 by Marie Sklodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie, was formerly used in radiotherapy but has since been replaced by other sources. Today, it serves as a feedstock for the production of the radioisotope actinium-225, which is so rare that annual global production is less than a grain of sand. Actinium-225 is an alpha-emitting source known to be effective in destroying malignant cells in targeted cancer treatments. It allows for targeted radiotherapy as it can be placed close to the tumour and will kill cancerous cells without damaging nearby healthy tissue."

Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology and CNL have been in contact via the scheme since 2022 and over the past year 70 packages of disused radium-226 have been sent to Canada. The institute's Archara Phattanasub, Head of the Radioactive Waste Technology and Development Section, said: "Recycling these sources has multiple benefits for Thailand and is in line with circular economy objectives. This initiative has helped up significantly reduce the risk for any type of incident associated with these disused sources and freed up a lot of space in our national storage facility."

Jack Craig, President and CEO of CNL, said: "The IAEA has long championed the safe storage and disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources, which has always been appreciated and supported by Canada. However, their initiatives to assist donor nations in removing long-term liabilities while enabling a new radiotherapeutics industry is monumental."

Olena Mykolaichuk, the Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, said the collaboration "serves as a great example of how to effectively conduct complex source transportation operations with many moving parts ... fostering sustainable practices is a key element of the IAEA’s mandate, and we look forward to delivering on this initiative for many years to come."

The transport of radioactive material is closely regulated and overseen by national bodies and port authorities, with IAEA support prior to shipment. More transfers are planned for this year, including from El Salvador, Fiji and Slovenia.

President Biden has selected Matthew Marzano as his choice to fill the open seat on the five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The panel of commissioners has had a vacancy since Jeff Baran’s term as commissioner ended in June 2023.

Marzano currently serves as an Idaho National Laboratory detailee for the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, advising EPW on policy matters relating to clean air, climate, and energy. Most recently, he advised the committee’s chairman on the ADVANCE Act, legislation designed to prepare the NRC for an expected surge in new nuclear reactor oversight.

Prior to this role, Marzano served as the 2022 Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow. The yearlong fellowship, also known as the ANS Congressional Fellowship, gives nuclear professionals the opportunity to learn how policymaking affects nuclear science, energy, and technology by working directly for legislators or congressional committees on critical nuclear policy decisions.

From ANS: Craig Piercy, ANS executive director/chief executive officer, commended President Biden for nominating Matthew Marzano to the NRC.

“Mr. Marzano is a nuclear engineer with a long record in public service, advising on policy matters relating to clean air, climate, and energy,” Piercy said. "With his extensive experience, he is well qualified to join the NRC and would be a welcome addition. We believe that U.S. nuclear safety and security interests are best served by having a full roster of NRC commissioners with proven technical and professional qualifications. As such, we urge the Senate to act promptly on Mr. Marzano’s nomination.”

Background: Marzano combines his policy background with more than a decade of experience in the nuclear industry, during which he focused on nuclear energy systems for both defense and commercial applications.

Marzano began his career at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in 2012, supporting the U.S. Navy training mission as a reactor operations instructor and nuclear plant engineer. In 2015, he moved to Dominion Energy, where he spent two years supporting construction activities and qualifying as a senior reactor operator for the twin AP1000 reactor expansion project (since halted) at the V. C. Summer nuclear power plant. Following, Marzano joined Exelon Generation (now Constellation) at Braidwood nuclear power plant, supporting digital plant upgrades while obtaining a senior reactor operator license.

Marzano holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Florida. He now lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and 1-year old son.

Slovak utility Slovenské elektrárne has signed a contract with France's Framatome for the long-term supply of nuclear fuel to the VVER-440 reactors at its Bohunice and Mochovce plants, starting from 2027.

The signing of the contract followed a memorandum of understanding that was signed by the two companies in May 2023 during a visit and meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Slovakia's President Zuzana Čaputová. The MoU sets the basis for future strategy and further discussion of extending the two companies' links in areas including nuclear operations and maintenance, safety instrumentation and control and cybersecurity, as well as examining the feasibility of nuclear medicine and radioisotope production in Slovakia.

"This contract marks a new milestone in the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between Framatome and Slovenské elektrárne," said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. "We are pleased to contribute to the diversification of Slovakia's fuel supply and to the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of the Bohunice and Mochovce nuclear power plants."

"Securing a contract with one of the world's leading nuclear fuel suppliers for our power plants is an important step in strengthening Slovakia's energy security," said Slovenské elektrárne General Director Branislav Strýček. "Our nuclear power plants represent an important pillar in our country's energy mix, therefore I consider it to be crucial to secure nuclear fuel supply diversification for their stable operation."

Slovakia currently has five nuclear reactors - three at Mochovce and two at Bohunice - generating half of its electricity, and has one more unit at Mochovce under construction. Both plants are operated by Slovenské elektrárne.

The company's diversification strategy is to have at least two alternative nuclear fuel suppliers and potential suppliers of materials and services across the nuclear fuel production supply chain.

In August last year, Slovenské elektrárne signed a long-term agreement with Westinghouse for the licensing and supply of VVER-440 fuel assemblies. The fuel will be supplied by Westinghouse Electric Sweden and will need to get licensing approval for use in the reactors in Slovakia. The aim is for the first deliveries to be about a year after its use is approved.

Nineteen VVER reactors - developed during the time of the Soviet Union and historically reliant on Russian fuel supplies - are currently in operation in the EU, including four VVER-1000 reactors in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, and 15 VVER-440 reactors in the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia.

In recent years, especially since the war with Ukraine began, nuclear power operators in EU countries who had previously relied on Russian-supplied fuel have sought alternative suppliers. Bulgaria's Kozloduy signed agreements at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 which will see it replacing its Russian supplier with fuel from Framatome and from Westinghouse.

Framatome said it has "a dual-track approach" to supplying fuel to VVER reactors in operation in the European Union. In the short term, it will fabricate fuel identical to the proven design currently used by the reactors. In parallel, Framatome is developing and qualifying European sovereign fuels of its own design for VVER 440 and 1000 reactors.

Last month, Framatome was awarded a EUR10 million (USD10.7 million) contribution from the EU under the Euratom Research and Training Programme for development and deployment of a European fuel solution for VVER reactors. The SAVE (Safe and Alternative VVER European) project for VVER-440 fuel led by Framatome brings together 17 stakeholders, including utilities operating VVER reactors in the EU.

The project follows the Westinghouse-led Accelerated Program for Implementation of Secure VVER Fuel Supply (APIS) project launched in July 2023 to develop safe fuel designs for VVER-440 and next generation fuel designs for VVER-1000 reactors.

Researchers subjected two full-sized dry storage systems for used nuclear fuel to simulated seismic events to help improve understanding of the potential impacts of earthquakes on fuel in storage at more than 70 US reactor sites.

US Department of Energy (DOE) researchers used a specialised outdoor shake table at the University of California San Diego to carry out the tests on a full-scale vertical cask weighing 125 tonnes and a 111-tonne horizontal storage system. Both casks were equipped with dummy fuel assemblies and more than 240 sensors to collect data on around 40 different seismic simulations, DOE said.

The storage systems that are already in use in the USA are designed to withstand significant seismic loads. The data from these tests will be used to evaluate the impacts of potential seismic events on the used fuel inside the casks - particularly the fuel cladding - and to inform the design and licensing of future storage systems for used fuel. It will also help improve current practices.

"Building public trust through transparent and rigorous testing is a key objective of this initiative," Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition Paul Murray said. "These tests have yielded valuable data on the performance of spent nuclear fuel storage systems during seismic events. The insights gained are essential for ensuring the safety and integrity of these systems, which is crucial for long-term storage solutions."

The seismic tests were funded by the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy's Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition programme.

The Indian government has announced plans to partner with the private sector to develop small modular reactors in a 2024-25 budget announcement which recognises a significant role for nuclear in the country's future energy mix.

The budget was presented to Parliament by Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, who said nuclear energy is expected to form a "very significant" part of the energy mix for Viksit Bharat, the government's strategy to make India into a completely developed nation by 2047.

The first budget since Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third successive term in office in the general election which took place earlier this year sets out the detailed roadmap for the government's pursuit of its development goal, in line with the strategy set out in an interim budget presented in February. Energy security is one of nine priorities for achieving Viksit Bharat that was identified in the interim budget.

"Towards that pursuit, our government will partner with the private sector for (1) setting up Bharat Small Reactors, (2) research & development of Bharat Small Modular Reactor, and (3) research & development of newer technologies for nuclear energy," Sitharaman said in her budget speech. "The R&D funding announced in the interim budget will be made available for this sector."

The budget allocates a total of INR24,969 crore (USD2.983 billion) to the Department of Atomic Energy (1 crore is 10 million).

Sitharaman said the government intends to bring out a policy document on "appropriate" energy transition pathways "that balances the imperatives of employment, growth and environmental sustainability". As well as the commitment to nuclear energy, the budget includes a major project to install rooftop solar, and a policy for promoting pumped storage projects, which the government says will help to facilitate the integration of the growing share of renewable energy. A project to build a full-scale 800 MWe commercial Advanced Ultra Super Critical thermal power plant will receive fiscal support from the government, and a roadmap for transitioning 'hard to abate' industries to focus on emission targets will be formulated, she said.

India currently has 23 operable nuclear reactors providing some 7,425 MWe of generating capacity, with seven units currently under construction, including both Indian-designed and Russian-designed units as well as one fast breeder reactor. It has plans for a fleet of Indian-designed and built 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors as well as for large reactors from overseas vendors, including further Russian-designed VVER reactors in addition to those already in operation and under construction at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.

More recently, Indian attention has also been turning to small modular reactors (SMRs): In August 2023, Minister of State Jitendra Singh told the country's parliament that the government was considering options for SMRs, and looking at ways to allow the participation of the private sector and start-ups in such projects.

India's Atomic Energy Act of 1962 prohibits private control of nuclear power generation: only two government-owned enterprises - NPCIL and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI, set up to build and operate fast reactors) - are legally allowed to own and operate nuclear power plants in India. But the possibility of involving other public sector and private corporations in the country's future expansion plans has been under consideration for some time.

Earlier this year, government sources said India was planning to invite private firms to invest some USD26 billion in its nuclear energy sector, and holding talks with several private firms to secure investments to support the construction of some 11,000 MWe of new nuclear capacity by 2040.

A new report based on what its authors call “the definitive American public opinion surveys on climate change and the environment” has found a statistically significant increase in the percentage of survey respondents who think nuclear power is a good way to generate electricity, relative to a survey that asked the same question in 2013. That’s despite evidence that “Americans’ views on climate change have remained remarkably steady.” The new report, Climate Insights 2024: American Understanding of Climate Change, is the product of a 27-year polling partnership led by the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University and Resources for the Future (RFF), and it was released July 15.

Nuclear power boost: Only a small handful of questions showed statistically significant change, according to RFF report authors Bo MacInnis and Jon A. Krosnick. That includes questions on different energy sources for electricity generation. Respondents were asked if using “sunlight,” hydropower, wind, coal, natural gas, and nuclear power were “good” or “bad” ways to generate electricity, or neither good nor bad. The same questions were asked in 2013.

Only one electricity source saw any increased support, and that was nuclear power, with a statistically significant jump from 33 percent in 2013 to 44 percent in 2024. Other energy sources saw a statistically significant decrease in support: “sunlight,” wind, and natural gas. Both hydropower and coal saw slight, statistically insignificant drops in support.

Natural gas and nuclear power effectively switched places in the survey respondents’ esteem over the past ten-plus years, as the accompanying graph shows. While renewable electricity generation continues to enjoy the support of a significant majority of the survey respondents, fossil fuels—represented by natural gas and coal—now have the lowest level of approval from survey respondents.

First report of 2024: For over two decades, researchers at Stanford and RFF have been tracking American public opinion on climate change. According to the report, “the most striking result of this continued polling has been the overall consistency of the results,” despite headline-generating storms, wildfires, and cold snaps.

One statistically significant change is “in the direction of less endorsement of climate change’s existence and less trust in scientists who study the environment,” according to the report. Seventy-five percent of survey respondents agreed that “the earth has probably been warming over the past 100 years,” down from 83 percent in 2020 for a statistically significant decline from four years before. The latest number—75 percent—fits well within the range of past survey results—the lowest percentage of respondents agreeing with that statement was 69 percent (in 2015), while the highest was 85 percent (in 2006 and 2007).

The new report on public opinions of climate change is the first of several expected to come out of the 2024 survey. Future reports in the series will explore American public opinion on climate policies and politics, environmental justice, and areas of partisan agreement and disagreement.

Voting the issues: The survey found that 73 percent of Americans say they know at least a moderate amount about climate change. For a smaller percentage—the “issue public”—climate change is a matter “of great personal importance.”

“These are the people who pay careful attention to news on the subject, think and talk a lot about it, and give money to lobbying groups to influence policy,” the report states. “In 2024, the global warming issue public makes up a near all-time high of 21 percent of Americans, up from 9 percent in 1997 and down a bit (though not statistically significantly) from 26 percent in 2020, showing that a growing body of people care deeply about climate change and may be likely to cast their votes based on candidates’ climate policy platforms.”

Rolls-Royce has secured an additional GBP4.8 million (USD6.2 million) in funding from the UK Space Agency to advance the development and demonstration of key technologies in its space nuclear microreactor.

The latest award was among more than 20 national space projects to be awarded funding totalling GBP33 million under the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), designed to invest in high-potential technologies, drive innovation and unlock growth across the UK.

Over the next 18 months, in collaboration with academic partners from the University of Oxford and Bangor University, the Rolls-Royce project will develop the whole microreactor system design, underlying capabilities and key technologies.

"The programme will help unlock the UK's participation in the developing space nuclear power markets and clearly demonstrate the UK's capability and readiness to move towards a detailed design," Rolls-Royce said. "An initial flight demonstration is anticipated by the end of this decade."

"We are delighted to win this award from the National Space Innovation Programme and to be continuing our collaboration with the UK Space Agency," said Jake Thompson, director of Novel Nuclear & Special Projects at Rolls-Royce. "This funding is a pivotal point in our microreactor programme and will accelerate our technology progression, bringing us a step closer to powering inspiring human endeavours in space.

"The future of space exploration is greatly dependent on the ability to generate high levels of consistent power and our nuclear microreactor is the solution that will offer safe, reliable and flexible power to a broad range of space missions."

UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate added: "The National Space Innovation Programme will help kickstart growth, create high-quality jobs, protect our planet and preserve the space environment for future generations. New projects like this one, led by Rolls-Royce, go to the heart of what we want to achieve as a national space agency that supports cutting-edge innovation, spreads opportunity across the UK and delivers the benefits of space back to citizens on Earth."

The Rolls-Royce National Space Innovation Programme will have a total project cost of GBP9.1 million and aims to progress the microreactor's overall technology readiness level, which will bring the reactor closer to a full system space flight demonstration.

This latest investment follows the announcement of GBP1.18 million awarded to Rolls-Royce from the UK Space Agency in April this year, under Phase 2 of the International Bi-Lateral Fund. This was preceded by GBP2.9 million of funding awarded in 2023 under the Lunar Surface Nuclear Power Contract and Phase 1 of the IBF project in 2023, which delivered an initial concept of a UK lunar modular nuclear reactor.

US construction firm Burns & McDonnell has entered into an agreement with BWX Technologies Inc to further the design and development of the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR), which is being evaluated for deployment in Wyoming.

Under the agreement, Burns & McDonnell will leverage its experience in the commercial power industry to assist BWX Technologies Inc (BWXT) in developing the balance of the plant systems for the microreactor, generating the power plant layout and performing preconstruction planning.

The company's project scope includes developing the power cycle architecture and identifying critical components such as the steam turbine generator and air-cooled condensers. It also includes site integration design and support for steam and power distribution infrastructure and reactor building structures.

BANR is a 50 MWt high-temperature gas microreactor that uses a form of TRISO (TRIstructural-ISOtropic) fuel. The technology was one of five selected in December 2020 by the US Department of Energy to receive a share of USD30 million in initial funding for risk reduction projects under its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).

In September last year, BWXT announced it had been contracted by the Wyoming Energy Authority (WEA) to assess the viability of deploying microreactors in the state. During phase one of the contract, BWXT was to work with Wyoming industries to define the requirements basis for nuclear applications of base heat and power needs of the trona mining operations within the state. BWXT was also to perform engineering work to further the design of its BANR microreactor system that can integrate into Wyoming's future power needs. This work also included identifying areas where Wyoming's existing supply chain can demonstrate capabilities for reactor component manufacturing and support reactor deployment.

Based on the outcomes of the first phase, phase two of the contract entails BWXT furthering the design basis of BANR to meet the specific needs of potential Wyoming end users. A demonstration of the capabilities of Wyoming manufacturers would also be performed to validate the supply chain activities completed in phase one.

Burns & McDonnell and BWXT completed phase one of this project in early 2024. Phase two is set to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.

"There's been tremendous support as we've explored the potential opportunities for deploying microreactors in Wyoming," said BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC President Joseph Miller. "We look forward to taking this next step with Burns & McDonnell to advance our designs and the nuclear industry overall."

"Through this project, Burns & McDonnell continues its commitment to advancing nuclear technology in the power industry and is excited to work with BWXT, a premier nuclear manufacturer that's been designing, building and delivering reactors for decades," said Scott Strawn, vice president and general manager of the Power Group at Burns & McDonnell. "This project has so many unique aspects to it, including cogeneration, which would be the first domestic nuclear application that produces both electricity and steam for industrial use."

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into whether the support for the lifetime extension of two of Belgium's nuclear power reactors is in line with its rules on acceptable state aid.

Belgium finalised plans in December to extend the lifetimes of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 by 10 years, providing capacity of 2 GWe from the reactors, which are 89.8% owned by Engie's Electrabel and 10.2% by EDF's subsidiary Luminus. The decision to extend their lifetimes was designed to boost the country's energy security while keeping carbon emissions as low as possible.

The agreement reached by the Belgian government is for the creation of a 50-50 joint venture between the state and Electrabel which would own, together with Luminus, the plants and their production. There would be the issuing of shareholder loans for about EUR2 billion (USD2.2 billion) to cover the capital expenditure necessary for the lifetime extension and, according to the EC, "financial support mechanisms provided by the Belgian State, including the prefunding of Electrabel's costs and expenses for the development activities, a contract-for-difference (CfD) for the duration of the extension, a loan of approximately EUR580 million and an operating cashflow guarantee".

The EC also says that the proposal is for the "transfer of liabilities from Electrabel to the Belgian State concerning long-term storage and final disposal of nuclear waste and spent fuel, against the payment of a lumpsum of EUR15 billion; and risk-sharing and legal protections in the event of future legislative changes, specifically concerning nuclear operators in Belgium or Electrabel's nuclear activities".

The commission says that the measures appear justified but it has "doubts as to compatibility with EU State aid rules and has therefore decided to open an in-depth investigation". The areas to face further investigation include the necessity of additional financial support beyond the CfD arrangement, the design of the CfD itself and "the proportionality of the combination of financial and structural arrangements and of the EUR15 billion lumpsum; compliance with relevant EU sectoral legislation, in particular concerning the design of the CfD mechanism and the impact of the measure on the market in light of the CfD design and the selection and independence of the agent selling the nuclear electricity".

Belgium and interested parties now have the opportunity to submit comments. European Union member states are free to decide on their energy mix and state financial support "should remain necessary and proportionate and not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest".

The background

Under a plan announced by Belgium's coalition government in December 2021, Doel 3 was shut down in September 2022, while Tihange 2 shut down at the end of January 2023. The newer Doel 4 and Tihange 3 would be shut down by 2025. However, following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 the government and Electrabel began negotiating the feasibility and terms for the operation of the reactors for a further 10 years, with a final agreement reached in December, with a balanced risk allocation

The business model agreed for the extension will have a balanced risk allocation, in particular through a Contract for Difference mechanism covering remuneration for electricity generation. The strike price is to be based on the actual cost of extending operation of the nuclear units. This cost is not yet known, but will be estimated based on the nuclear safety requirements set out by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control. An initial price will be set in 2025 and updated in 2028 to reflect the known final cost of the extension, to cover the period up to 2035.

The final text also sets out the technical and operational conditions for restarting the two units from November 2025, with full guarantees of nuclear safety. Engie said the operation of these two reactors and the dismantling work under way of its other units will maintain around 4000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between EDF, Edison, Federacciai, Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare aimed at promoting cooperation in the use of nuclear energy to boost the competitiveness and decarbonisation of the Italian steel industry.

Through the MoU, the partners will consider co-investment opportunities in new nuclear energy and, in particular, in the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Italy over the coming decade, making use of the SMR technology promoted by EDF, of Edison's expertise, and of the engineering and industrial capabilities of Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare.

They will also explore establishing a supply contract of nuclear energy over the medium and long-term, leveraging primarily on the capacity on the interconnector already operating between Italy and France and thus contributing to the decarbonisation of steel production in Italy.

"Looking at Italy, the reopening of the debate about the use of the new nuclear is considered a decisive step," the partners said in a joint statement. "The goal is to implement an energy transition that, together with the development of renewables and green gas, can rely on a baseload and flexible energy source at fixed costs, allowing decarbonisation targets to be reached while minimising the overall cost of energy."

Antonio Gozzi, president of Federacciai, the Federation of Italian Steel Companies, said: "The agreement signed today is of crucial importance for the Italian steel industry and the entire production chain. The commitment of Italian steelmakers is clear: we intend to lead the transition to a fully sustainable steel industry. Thanks to agreements like this, within a few years, Italy can become the first country in the world to produce fully decarbonised steel.

"Nuclear power will be a strategic and much needed component in achieving such ambitious goals, providing the industry with a secure and environmentally friendly energy supply. We will work to ensure that this first important agreement can set an example for all hard-to-abate industrial sectors: this is the only viable way to meet the most ambitious decarbonisation targets."

"This new step in French-Italian cooperation in the field of decarbonised electricity generation from nuclear sources highlights EDF's strong commitment to establishing and consolidating a long-term relationship," added Xavier Ursat, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice President in charge of Strategy, Technologies, Innovation and Development. "Our aim is clearly to support the relaunch of the nuclear option in Italy and to strengthen industrial cooperation between the two countries in Italy, in France and in Europe."

"The interest of a key player such as Federacciai confirms and reinforces our strategy of collaborating with companies and business associations from energy-intensive industries to promote concrete actions aimed at achieving European climate targets," said Marc Benayoun, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice President, in charge of Customers & Energy Services.

Nicola Monti, CEO of EDF's Italian subsidiary Edison, said the new agreement marks further progress in setting an agenda for developing new nuclear energy in Italy. "Today, Italy imports about 15-20% of its energy from abroad. The development of a national supply chain for the production of new nuclear energy, making the most of the technological advances of recent years and investing in the improvement of local skills, represents a phenomenal opportunity to achieve not only decarbonisation targets, but also greater independence and security for the country's energy system."

"This agreement allows Ansaldo Nucleare to make available its experience and capabilities as a systems integrator and developer of new nuclear technologies and represents a crucial opportunity for the country's growth," added Ansaldo Nucleare CEO Daniela Gentile. "The Italian industry recognises the importance of a European approach in the nuclear sector and, as part of the Ansaldo Energia Group, we hope that this will result in the implementation of Italian nuclear projects over the next ten years."

Return to nuclear

Italy operated a total of four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power in a referendum that followed the 1986 Chernobyl accident. It closed its last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, in 1990.

In late March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the Italian government approved a moratorium of at least one year on construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which had been looking to restart its long-abandoned nuclear programme.

In May last year, the Italian Parliament approved a motion to urge the government to consider incorporating nuclear power into the country's energy mix.

Italy's government included potential new nuclear capacity in its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, which was submitted to the European Commission on 1 July.

Speaking the following day at the Global Energy Transition Congress in Milan, Italy's Minister for Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, said: We expect to be able to reach about 8 GW from nuclear power by 2050, covering more than 10% of the nation's electricity demand. This percentage may increase to over 20-22% by fully exploiting the potential of nuclear power in our country."

Next-generation fusion technology company Shine Technologies has been awarded $32m (€29m) from the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as part of a drive to establish a reliable, US-produced supply of the medical radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) and ease chronic shortages.

The funds will go towards the construction of Chrysalis, Shine’s large-scale, medical radioisotope facility in Janesville, Wisconsin, the company said.

Upon its completion, Chrysalis will satisfy more than one-third of the world’s demand for Mo-99, Shine said.

The company, which is developing a method to produce radioisotopes using nuclear fusion, aims to produce Mo-99 commercially in early 2027.

Since 2010, the DOE/NNSA has awarded Shine a total of $114m towards the project.

Mo-99 is crucial in nuclear medicine, powering approximately 40 million diagnostic procedures every year which are used in diagnosing life-threatening diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

But current Mo-99 production is limited to only a handful of government-owned nuclear research reactors outside the US.

Given Mo-99’s half-life, about one-third of the product is lost during cross-continental transportation.

“Shine’s domestic production capabilities will provide a reliable supply chain to address chronic shortages of critical medicine,” the company said.

In 2022 Shine announced that its European subsidiary, Shine Europe, had secured funding to begin designing an advanced medical isotope production facility at Veendam in the northeast of the Netherlands.

Last year, Shine raised $70m in funding as part of its efforts to commercialise and scale-up near-term applications of fusion technology.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has concluded after a safety review that a construction permit can be issued for Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 advanced demonstration facility at a site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The NRC said its staff had completed its final safety evaluation for the Hermes 2 plant and concluded “there are no safety aspects that would preclude issuing the construction permit for the facility”.

The Kairos application requests permission to build the demonstration facility with two 35-MW thermal test reactors, similar in design to the test reactor the NRC issued a construction permit for in 2023.

The fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (KP-FHRs) would share a power generation system. The company will have to submit a separate application for operating licences.

The Hermes demonstration reactor will be a key step on the path towards commercialising the KP-FHR technology.

The NRC said the staff will provide the safety evaluation and the final environmental assessment, which is on track to be completed later this summer, to the commission for the final phase of the licensing process later this year.

The commission will determine whether the staff’s review supports the findings necessary to issue the permit. It will then vote on whether to authorise the staff to issue the permit.

“We finished our review of Hermes 2 design nearly four months ahead of schedule, and using about 60 percent fewer resources than expected, using insights from our previous Kairos review,” said Andrea Veil, director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

“We remain committed to applying these sorts of lessons learned to maintain safety while promptly and efficiently processing applications.”

Alameda, California–headquartered Kairos Power, a privately owned nuclear engineering, design and manufacturing company says it is “singularly focused” on the commercialisation of its KP-FHR technology.

In February he US Department of Energy (DOE) signed a technology investment agreement with Kairos Power to support the design, construction, and commissioning of the Hermes demonstration plant at Oak Ridge.

Kairos said it will get $303m (€279m) from the DOE in fixed payments under a performance-based, fixed-price approach upon achieving significant project milestones.

Turkey may be closer to moving ahead in a partnership with Russia for its second nuclear plant, Sinop, a proposed four-reactor facility on the Black Sea coast.

Alparslan Bayraktar, Turkey’s minister of energy and natural resources, made statements last week indicating that Russia’s state-owned utility Rosatom may be edging out South Korea in talks over the project. He said Rosatom is “a company that’s invested in Turkey and gained experience.” In April, Rosatom started commissioning work at Akkuyu, Turkey’s first nuclear plant.

Rosatom announced Thursday that its director general, Alexey Likhachev, attended a meeting in Istanbul with Bayraktar, during which they discussed both the progress at Akkuyu and the potential to partner on the Sinop plant.

What was said: According to Bayraktar, the two discussed the road map for the commissioning of the Akkuyu unit.

“We are working intensively in order to put the first power unit into operation as soon as possible,” he said, reported a Rosatom news release. “At the same time construction of three other power units is going on. When all power units of Akkuyu NPP are put into operation, the power plant will provide for satisfy [sic] 10 percent of the electric power demand in Turkey.”

Plans for Akkuyu include four Russian-designed Gen III+ VVER reactors, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW. Rosatom planned to have all four units operational by the end of 2028. The plant’s construction license was issued in 2018 and work began that year.

Likhachev echoed that Rosatom is focused on preparation and start-up of Akkuyu’s first unit.

“Intensive full-scale start-up and adjustment works are in progress [and] at the current stage we are preparing the reactor plant for dummy fuel loading,” he added. “We understand how important it is . . . to start the first nuclear power plant [on] the Turkish grid as soon as possible.”

No details were released on specific discussions between the two parties regarding plans for the Sinop plant, but Bayraktar has said that licensing is expected to take several years and hopefully would include public-private partnership.

A closer look: While many of Turkey’s NATO allies are cutting reliance on Russian energy resources because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, Turkey is still a partner. Russia is still the main supplier of crude oil and natural gas to Turkey, which has an electricity market of 85 million people.

Turkey wants to add 20 gigawatts of nuclear capacity to its energy mix by 2050.

Bayraktar told Bloomberg that negotiations are ongoing with U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. for both small and conventional nuclear projects in Turkey. He said Westinghouse executives are scheduled to visit Turkey later this month.

Delays at Akkuyu? News reports earlier this month indicated the Akkuyu project could face delays due to sanctions that have been placed on subsidiaries of Rosatom, due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Some subsidiaries who may be affected are Joint-Stock Company Atomstroyexport (ASE JSC), which develops nuclear installation technologies, and the Vladimir Production Association Tochmash, which makes centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

The U.S. State Department said in April 2023 that it would work to constrain Rosatom “given [that] it uses energy exports, including the nuclear sector, to exert political and economic pressure on its customers globally.”

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named Mirela Gavrilas, currently head of the agency’s Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, executive director for operations, effective July 28.

The EDO position is the highest-ranking NRC career position, with responsibilities for overseeing the agency’s operational and administrative functions and serving as the chief operating officer.

“Mirela is extraordinarily qualified for this top leadership position, based on her technical expertise, communication and management skills, and demonstrated ability to modernize work processes and metrics,” said Christopher Hanson, NRC chair. “She is well poised to lead the NRC staff as we tackle challenges and embrace new opportunities, particularly after the recent passage of the ADVANCE Act.”

NRC jobs: Gavrilas has been the head of NSIR since 2020, where she has been responsible for developing and implementing security and emergency preparedness policy. Since becoming a senior executive in 2014, she has held management positions for research and test reactors, risk assessment, and reactor systems in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

Among her most notable contributions to the NRC mission are the Be riskSMART decision-making framework, a methodology for the probabilistic treatment of safety margins; the construction permit review for Shine Technologies’ medical isotope production facility; the NRC’s original accident-tolerant fuel plan; and security considerations for licensing advanced reactors. She has also led efforts to develop new regulatory frameworks for accident-tolerant fuels and novel molybdenum-99 production facilities.

Background: Gavrilas began her NRC career in 2004 as an engineer in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland–College Park and a doctorate in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she also served as a postdoctoral fellow.

Prior to joining the NRC, she taught nuclear engineering classes, advised master’s and doctoral candidates, and conducted experimental and computational thermal-hydraulic research as an assistant professor at the University of Maryland–College Park.

The University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) is the latest member of Nuclear Medicine Europe, an industry association for the radiopharmaceutical and molecular imaging industry in Europe, the University of Missouri announced July 17.

“Joining Nuclear Medicine Europe is a significant step for MURR,” said Matt Sanford, executive director of MURR. “This membership helps us contribute more effectively to the global nuclear medicine community and collaborate to ensure we are able to provide the treatments that are helping patients every day.”

Nuclear Medicine Europe: Nuclear Medicine Europe, which has executive offices in Brussels, Belgium, can trace its roots back to the mid-1980s and took its current name in 2019. The organization promotes the “economic and/or commercial interests” of its members in the field of imaging and therapy with molecular and radioactive tracers by increasing awareness of the benefits of nuclear medicine.

As a member of Nuclear Medicine Europe, MURR will collaborate with European institutions and companies to further research, production, and application of radiopharmaceuticals.

“The University of Missouri Research Reactor is a key, global supplier of medical and research radioisotopes, and we are delighted to have them join the association,” said Mart-Jan Blauwhoff, president of Nuclear Medicine Europe. “Their expertise and resources will be a valuable addition to our collective efforts in advancing nuclear medicine and improving patient outcomes.”

New capacity: The 10-MW MURR began operating in 1966, and in 2017 it received a 20-year operating license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In October 2023, the university celebrated the start of construction of MURR West, a $20 million, 47,000-square-foot addition to the MURR facility. The expansion is expected to expand MURR’s research and medical isotope production space.

Still more research and isotope production capacity is set to be gained from a new 20-MW research reactor the university plans to construct in Columbia, Mo., known as NextGen MURR. When complete, NextGen MURR “will be an essential producer of medical radioisotopes to industry partners worldwide,” according to the university.

“This association is an important step as we look ahead to NextGen MURR and the impact it will have on the global supply chain,” Sanford said. “The need for isotopes is growing, and Mizzou is engaging with partners around the world to ensure patients have lifesaving treatments now and for decades to come.”

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Centrus-receives-uranium-import-waiver

Centrus Energy has received a waiver from the US Department of Energy (DOE) allowing it to import low-enriched uranium from Russia for delivery to US customers in 2024 and 2025.

The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act will go into effect on 11 August, banning the import into the USA of unirradiated, low-enriched uranium (LEU) that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity. The bipartisan legislation was signed by President Joe Biden in May, after being passed unanimously by the US Senate.

The waiver process was put in place to ensure US nuclear plants do not experience supply disruptions in the short term, while the country builds up its domestic low-enriched uranium (LEU) capacity. Waivers to allow the import of limited quantities of Russian-origin material may be granted by the US Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, if it is determined that no alternative viable source of LEU is available, or that the importation of Russian LEU is in the national interest. Waivers will only be available up to 1 January 2028: the prohibition will remain in place until the end of 2040.

Centrus filed its first waiver request application - covering deliveries from 11 August 2024 to the end of 2027 - on 27 May. On 18 July, the DOE issued a waiver allowing it to import LEU from Russia "for deliveries already committed by the Company to its US customers in years 2024 and 2025," the company said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The DOE has deferred a decision on 2026 and 2027 to "an unspecified date closer in time to the deliveries", Centrus said.

A second waiver request application to allow the importation of LEU from Russia for processing and re-export to Centrus's foreign customers, filed on 7 June, is awaiting determination from the DOE.

Centrus has also said it intends to file a third waiver request application to allow for importation of LEU from Russia in 2026 and 2027 for use in the USA. This would be for deliveries that have yet to be committed to customers.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/GA-progresses-with-silicon-carbide-fuel-cladding-d

General Atomics has manufactured the first batch of full-length SiGA silicon carbide composite tubes designed for pressurised water reactors. The company is developing nuclear fuel rods that can withstand higher temperatures than materials currently used.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) is under contract with the US Department of Energy (DOE) through its Accident Tolerant Fuel Program to advance silicon carbide fuel cladding technology for enhanced efficiency and improved safety of the US nuclear reactor fleet.

SiGA is a silicon carbide composite material which, because of its hardness and ability to withstand extremely high temperatures, has been used for industrial purposes for decades. It now forms the basis for the development of nuclear reactor fuel rods that can survive temperatures far beyond that of current materials, such as zirconium alloy.

GA-EMS has successfully created silicon carbide nuclear fuel cladding tubes. The company's technology incorporates silicon carbide fibre into its cladding. The combination creates an incredibly tough and durable engineered silicon carbide composite material which can withstand temperatures up to 3800°F (2093°C) - about 500 degrees hotter than the melting point of zirconium alloy.

GA-EMS has already created 6-inch (15cm) long SiGA rodlets and 3-foot (91cm) cladding samples that meet stringent nuclear power reactor-grade requirements and will undergo irradiation testing at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory.

Recent work has demonstrated the process is scalable to full-length 12-foot (3.6m) fuel rods.

"This manufacturing demonstration of SiGA cladding at lengths of 12 feet is a notable milestone in our efforts to bring this innovative technology to market," said GA-EMS President Scott Forney. "We have been executing a strategic fabrication and test programme and advancing manufacturing efficiency and scale-up of this enabling product, including demonstration of cladding robustness through collaborative test campaigns with the national labs."

"SiGA cladding is engineered to enhance the safety and affordability of the existing nuclear reactor fleet," added Christina Back, vice president of GA-EMS Nuclear Technologies and Materials. "The material's in-core stability can reduce the frequency for refuelling the core, which will improve nuclear power plant economics, while providing additional fuel protection in the unlikely case of an accident.

"This manufacturing milestone showed excellent property uniformity across the length of the part and throughout the production batch. As we continue to validate our scale-up work, these key performance metrics demonstrated at shorter 6-inch to 3-foot lengths, will continue to be the hallmark of SiGA technology at full length."

In addition to scaling fabrication techniques and process improvements, GA-EMS said it is focused on advanced performance testing, and modelling tool development, for SiGA fuel rods.

GA originally developed its SiGA composite for its Energy Multiplier Module (EM2) small modular reactor design. This is a modified version of its Gas-Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR) design.

In February 2020, Framatome and GA agreed to evaluate the feasibility of using SiGA in fuel channel applications through thermomechanical and corrosion testing. The long-term goal is to demonstrate the irradiation of a full-length fuel channel in support of licensing and commercialisation.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Korean,-US-partnership-to-study-maritime-SMRs

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Korea Ship & Offshore Plant Research Institute (KRISO) are collaborating to advance the commercialisation of small modular reactor-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms.

ABS said it will provide analysis of applicable regulatory guidelines and international standards for the design of SMR-powered ships.

KRISO will develop core technologies for SMR-powered ships, including conceptual designs for the vessel and propulsion systems as well as the development of a framework for integrated ship and nuclear power safety analysis. In addition, KRISO will design a floating SMR power generation platform, along with a commercialisation model that can supply stable power to island areas.

"ABS is taking a leading role in the support of nuclear power projects in the maritime industry through our knowledge of international regulations and development of class-related related safety requirements," said ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Patrick Ryan. "We are proud to apply our experience to these research projects with KRISO. With the increased focus on zero-carbon emissions, modern nuclear technologies offer the potential for decarbonisation in many areas of the sector."

KRISO President Keyyong Hong added: "Through this joint research with ABS, we will lead the development of future eco-friendly marine technology and establish global standards for the commercialisation of SMRs in the marine sector and will lead the global market for nuclear-powered ships in the future."

In October last year, a design for a floating offshore nuclear power barge from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and Kepco Engineering & Construction (Kepco E&C) received approval in principle from ABS. Project collaborators included ABS, HD KSOE, KEPCO E&C and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry. The floating SMR barge is intended to serve as offshore power generation for remote communities and island electrification.

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries announced in January last year that it had completed the conceptual design for the CMSR Power Barge - a floating nuclear power plant based on compact molten salt reactors - and obtained an approval in principle for the design from the ABS.

In February 2023, KRISO was one of nine South Korean organisations that signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on jointly developing a molten salt reactor suitable for use in marine vessels. They also agreed to cooperate in the development and demonstration of SMRs for marine use; the development of SMR-propelled vessel/marine system interface technology and response to licences and permits; to nurture experts in nuclear-powered ship operation and establishment of industrial infrastructure.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Andra-cleared-to-store-more-waste-in-Cires-reposit

French radioactive waste management agency Andra has been granted approval by the Aube department to increase the authorised capacity of the Cires very-low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, without increasing the disposal surface area.

Opened in Morvilliers in 2003, Cires (the Centre Industriel de Regroupement, d'Entreposage et de Stockage) was designed and authorised to receive 650,000 cubic metres of very-low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) - primarily material such as weakly contaminated rubble, earth, scrap metal - in three storage areas, called tranches 1, 2 and 3. By the end of 2022, Cires had reached 69.4% of its total authorised storage capacity. In view of the VLLW delivery forecasts announced by the producers of waste for the coming years, the site - covering 46 hectares - is expected to reach its authorised storage capacity around 2028-2029.

The national inventory of radioactive materials and waste, published by Andra, predicts that between 2,100,000 cubic metres and 2,300,000 cubic metres of VLLW will be produced by 2050-2060, mainly during the dismantling of nuclear facilities currently in operation.

Andra submitted its environment authorisation application file for increasing the authorised storage capacity of Cires to the Aube department in April 2023. This file included several documents explaining the purpose of the project as well as the work and arrangements necessary for its implementation.

The environmental authorisation procedure comprised three phases. During the first phase, the project was reviewed by the state services, including the Environmental Authority. In the second phase, the public and local authorities were consulted.

In the third phase, the department has now given its approval based on the report and "reasoned conclusions" of the investigating commissioner.

With the authorisation, Cires will be able to accommodate a total of 950,000 cubic metres of VLLW, instead of the 650,000 cubic metres initially authorised, without increasing the disposal surface area.

This has been made possible by the various improvements to the disposal cells since the centre was commissioned in 2003. The disposal cells for VLLW were 80 metres long and could contain 10,000 cubic metres of waste. From 2007, cells 176 metres long were built, increasing the capacity of each cell to 25,000 cubic metres. In 2010, steepening of the slopes and deepening the cells made it possible to reach a disposal capacity of 27,000 cubic metres of VLLW per cell. In 2016, a new optimisation was implemented, which involved raising the height of the above-ground part of the repository. This increased the storage capacity of each cell to about 30,000 cubic metres.

Whilst tranche 1 at Cires has been filled with waste and capped, tranche 2 is currently in operation. Work on tranche 3 is set to begin in April next year, with the tranche becoming available for waste disposal starting in 2028.

Staff of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station have been experiencing further hardships because of the military conflict, with yet another power outage in the nearby city of Enerhodar and a shortage of tap water also affecting their workplace, International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi said on 19 July.

In the latest incident, the IAEA team stationed at Zaporizhzhia was informed by the plant that a military strike damaged a regional sub-station, cutting electricity to Enerhodar and also impacting water supplies.

Enerhodar and Zaporizhzhia are on the southern front of the conflict and were seized by Russian forces in early March 2022, soon after Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

IAEA experts reported that for the second time last week there was no tap water available in some buildings at the site.

People living in Enerhodar, including most Zaporizhzhia employees, have faced several such privations in recent weeks, the IAEA said.

“Such incidents clearly add to an already very stressful situation for people working at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Grossi said.

“We will continue to monitor the situation. The general wellbeing of staff is a source of concern since it can also have an impact on nuclear safety and security.”

Despite the instability in the electricity and water supply to Enerhodar, the availability of offsite power and cooling water at the six-unit nuclear station was unaffected, as it continues to receive electricity from two remaining offsite power lines. Eleven groundwater wells continue to provide the water needed to maintain cooling of the six reactors, which are all in cold shutdown.

Finnish nuclear startup Steady Energy has signed a one-year pre-planning agreement with power utility Kuopion Energia aimed at constructing a small modular nuclear power plant to start producing district heat in the city of Kuopio in south-central Finland in the early 2030s.

Under the agreement, Kuopion Energia will begin an environmental impact assessment for potential plant locations.

Steady Energy said suitable locations for the plant will be refined during the environmental impact assessment process. It said suitable places might include existing industrial sites.

“The investment decision will be made by Kuopion Energia, which will also seek necessary zoning changes in due course,” Steady Energy said in a statement. “Zoning decisions are the responsibility of the City of Kuopio. The estimated construction time is 3.5 years.”

Steady Energy said in June that it plans to start construction of its first LDR-50 district heating SMR pilot plant in Finland next year.

The company said potential sites include the Finnish capital Helsinki and two other cities. It did not name a final site for the plant, but did say Kuopio was one possible option.

It said construction of the first operational plant is projected to begin by 2028, with the first unit expected to be operational by 2030.

Pilot Plant Will Be First Of Kind In Finland

The pilot plant – the first of its kind in Finland and one of only a few close to deployment globally – will serve as a full-scale, operational model of the Finnish-designed SMR unit.

Unlike the actual power plant, the pilot unit will use an electric element to produce heat inside the reactor capsule instead of nuclear fuel.

Steady Energy said the main purpose is to test operational features and to establish the supply chains needed to build actual plants.

Steady Energy’s unit, comparable in size to an upright shipping container, can be built entirely underground or on an existing industrial site.

The company has already signed letters of intent for the delivery of up to 15 reactors for district heating with Helsinki’s local utility Helen and Kuopio Energy.

Finland is largely heated by district heating, mostly from fossil fuels, peat and wood.

District heating systems take energy released as heat from a range of energy sources – in this case an SMR – and connect it to energy consumers through a system of highly insulated pipes. One advantage of SMRs would be their low emissions.

The peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology today hold more promise to heal the world since Austrian Swedish physicist Lise Meitner and colleagues discovered nuclear fission in 1938, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in a new essay titled “Nuclear Must Be Part of The Solution” published by Foreign Affairs.

Atoms for Peace: Grossi described how the world has strayed from President Eisenhower’s vision of Atoms for Peace—as North Korea develops a nuclear weapons program, Iran enriches uranium to military grade, arms control and disarmament treaties collapse, and threats grow of nuclear weapons being used in conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

At the same time, Grossi noted that nuclear energy is providing large amounts of low-carbon electricity in Europe and the United States, China is building numerous nuclear power plants, India is considering nuclear power expansion, nuclear medicine is raising hopes of cancer cures in developing nations, and nuclear technologies are playing increasing roles in agriculture.

Nonproliferation: Grossi described the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) as a “grand bargain” in which states without nuclear weapons promised not to develop or acquire them and to submit to IAEA inspections to verify their adherence. Nuclear weapons states also promised in good faith to eliminate their arsenals, while other nations pledged not to develop such weapons.

Unfortunately, he continued, the NPT has since come under “undeniable stress,” with Israel, India, and Pakistan not joining the treaty, North Korea and Iran pursuing illegal or questionable nuclear programs, and existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons growing.

The next NPT review conference will occur in 2026.

Peaceful purposes: Grossi stressed the importance of the NPT not only for its nonproliferation benefits, but also for its facilitation of “the exchange of equipment, training, and scientific information for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.” He said, “The IAEA has a mandate to expand access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. . . . The uses of nuclear technology and science are so varied that they directly support more than half the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (and indirectly support all of them).”

After detailing the energy, medical, and climate benefits of nuclear technology, Grossi pointed out, “Around the world, countries are recommitting to nuclear energy or embarking on developing it.” He cited recent pro-nuclear actions in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Romania, the United Kingdom, India, China, South Korea, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Russia, Canada, and the United States.

Net zero and fusion: Grossi then turned to the promise of advanced nuclear technologies for reaching the goal of net-zero carbon emissions. He noted that these technologies “can recycle spent nuclear fuel, leaving less waste, and . . . small modular reactors . . . could make up about ten percent of the world’s nuclear power capacity [by 2050], distributing electricity in developing countries and providing more affordable options for smaller grids, such as those operated by industries in remote locations.”

Regarding nuclear fusion, Grossi said, “We must continue to back fusion so it will be able in the not-too-distant future to produce nearly unlimited quantities of power with almost no harmful waste at all. The establishment of a worldwide fusion platform by the IAEA—working with the G-7 and other bodies, including the 35-nation fusion experiment known as ITER—is moving us closer to fusion electricity than ever before.”

Embrace nuclear: Grossi concluded his essay by noting, “We face a convergence of challenges: climate change, energy, water and food insecurity, and the need to provide health care for all. Floods, fires, and droughts portend a disastrous future. But we have the means to avoid the worst and to adapt to new realities—with nuclear technology as a vital part of the solution. Global leaders must embrace and scale up this tool in ways commensurate with the challenges we face.”

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Steady-Energy,-Kuopion-Energy-enhance-cooperation

Finnish small modular reactor developer Steady Energy has signed a one-year pre-planning agreement with Kuopion Energia aimed at constructing a small nuclear power plant to start producing district heat in the city of Kuopio in the early 2030s.

As part of the agreement, Kuopion Energia will start an environmental impact assessment for potential plant locations. Suitable locations for the plant will be refined during the environmental impact assessment process, Steady Energy noted, adding that, generally, suitable places in cities include existing industrial sites.

"The investment decision will be made by Kuopion Energia, which will also seek necessary zoning changes in due course," Steady Energy said. "Zoning decisions are the responsibility of the City of Kuopio. The estimated construction time is 3.5 years."

Steady Energy's LDR-50 district heating SMR - with a thermal output of 50 MW - has been under development at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland since 2020. Designed to operate at around 150°C and below 10 bar (145 psi), the company says its "operating conditions are less demanding compared with those of traditional reactors, simplifying the technical solutions needed to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry". It noted that its reactors are affordable enough for municipal utilities to invest in independently.

"LDR-50 is a small and simple nuclear reactor which would help Kuopio to achieve its climate goals and provide affordable energy for heating the city," Steady Energy said. "The newly signed agreement initiates practical work towards an investment decision for the plant."

Last month, Steady Energy said it is set to start construction of its first LDR-50 district heating reactor pilot plant in Finland next year. Currently, the proposed locations for the pilot plant include: Salmisaari caves in central Helsinki; Huuhanmäki caves in Kuopio, the regional capital of North Savo in eastern Finland; and the power plant sites at Kymijärvi and Teivaanmäki in Lahti, a regional capital in southern Finland.

In December 2023, the company signed a letter of intent with municipal energy company Kuopion Energia in Eastern Finland that includes an option for the construction of up to five district heating reactors starting in 2030. That agreement followed a letter of intent signed in October between Steady Energy and Helsinki's energy company Helen for the construction of up to 10 SMRs for district heating.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UK-justification-decision-sought-for-Rolls-Royce-S

The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) has applied to the UK government for a justification decision for Rolls-Royce SMR's small modular reactor, a decision required for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the country. It marks the first ever application for justification of a UK reactor design.

UK regulations require that any new practice that produces ionising radiation is justified by an evaluation of the potential benefits and the potential detriments.

"Our application makes the case that the benefits of clean, firm, flexible power from the reactor would far outweigh any potential risks, which are in any event rigorously controlled by robust safety features, including passive safety systems, built into the design, in line with the UK's regulatory requirements," the NIA said. "The application also demonstrates that the reactor design would support nuclear energy's contribution to a stable and well-balanced electricity grid, which is essential to reduce consumer bills and maintain economic competitiveness."

The government has confirmed that the application has been accepted for consideration, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will support the Secretary of State in their role as the justifying authority responsible for the justification decision. DEFRA will now conduct a process of internal review and consultation with a number of statutory consultees.

The NIA noted that a justification decision is one of the required steps for the operation of a new nuclear technology in the UK, but it is not a permit or licence that allows a specific project to go ahead. "Instead, it is a generic decision based on a high-level evaluation of the potential benefits and detriments of the proposed new nuclear practice as a pre-cursor to future regulatory processes," it added.

The NIA, as the representative body of the UK civil nuclear industry, often makes justification applications, because justification is a generic decision that can be relied upon by anyone and are not personal to individual reactor vendors or project developers. The NIA has previously applied for justifications for Hitachi's Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, Westinghouse's AP1000 and Framatome's EPR. In April this year, it applied for a justification decision for Newcleo's Italian-designed lead-cooled fast reactor, the LFR-AS-200.

"Rolls-Royce SMR's design, like other SMRs, offers huge possibilities for the UK to revive our industrial capabilities and deliver low-carbon energy for net-zero and energy security," said NIA Chief Executive Tom Greatrex. "We are delighted to support this step to get the design approved in its home country.

"It is essential that our nuclear renaissance is made in Britain, so the new government should ensure that we deploy enough SMR designs to justify investment in the UK supply chain to deliver them."

Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Safety and Regulatory Affairs Director, said: "As the UK's most advanced SMR design, today's submission for regulatory justification is another important step to ensure that we can continue to move at pace towards deployment in the UK.

"Each Rolls-Royce SMR 'factory-built' nuclear power plant will provide enough clean, affordable, electricity to power a million homes for 60+ years - delivering energy security, enabling net-zero and making a transformational contribution to the UK economy. Rolls-Royce SMR remains on track to complete Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment by the nuclear industry's independent regulators and move immediately into the third and final step this summer."

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. 90% of the SMR - about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting on-site activity primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.

It is one of six SMR designs selected in October by Great British Nuclear on a shortlist for the UK's SMR selection competition and one of the five vendors to submit a bid by the 8 July deadline. The aim is for a final investment decision in two or three of the designs to be taken in 2029.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Climate-finance-top-priority,-says-COP29-President

Mukhtar Babayev, president-designate of the UN's COP29 summit taking place in Azerbaijan in November, says the top negotiating priority is agreeing a "fair and ambitious" goal on climate finance "adequate to the urgency and scale of the problem, taking into account the needs and priorities" of developing countries.

In a letter to parties and constituencies Babayev has set out the principles to focus on "to present the COP29 Presidency’s vision to enhance ambition and enable action, outline the key presidency milestones, lay out the pathways that we must follow to turn our vision into a reality, and highlight collaborative networks for complementary action".

He says: "Growing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in the international environment must not distract us from the imperative to collaborate and address climate change as the greatest transnational challenge of the century ... our actions should be guided by the latest science and informed by the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, agreed by Parties at COP28, with its roadmap for keeping 1.5°C within reach, while leaving no one behind."

He adds: "All countries must strive for the highest possible ambition, in line with the Paris Agreement and informed by the Global Stocktake. We also know that support for developing countries will allow for higher ambition in their actions. We now need to increase the overall flow of climate finance substantially and help developing countries that need support to realise their full potential."

The Global Stocktake agreed at COP28 in Dubai called for a transitioning away from fossil fuels and an acceleration of zero- and low-emission technologies, including nuclear. This was the first time that nuclear has been specifically included in a COP agreement as one of the solutions to climate change.

The COP29 presidency's aim is to agree a "fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance adequate to the urgency and scale of the problem, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing country parties".

The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is a global finance goal which was a key element of the 2015 Paris Agreement and aims to provide more than the 2009-set goal of USD100 billion per year as part of efforts to hold the increase in the global average temperature rises to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, by supporting developing countries' ability to adapt to climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without threatening food production and development.

According to the World Economic Forum, "the NCQG must be ambitious yet realistic, balancing the financial capacities of developed countries with the urgent needs of developing nations. The donor base is also unclear, with the status of some countries, including China and Saudi Arabia, still being hashed out. To get the NCQG off the ground, these questions must be answered before and during" COP29. Other issues include "the need for robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms" to avoid the new goal facing "the same challenges as its predecessor", such as the amount of the money which flows back to donor countries.

In his letter setting out the COP29 priorities, Babayev writes: "Strengthening multilateral financial institutions and climate funds will also be an important contribution to creating the international enabling environment for success, and we are working towards fully mobilising the private sector and philanthropy for climate action."

Adaptation and mitigation financing "require a substantial increase", he says, with negotiations continuing ahead of the summit - "climate finance has been one of the most challenging topics in the negotiations and climate diplomacy more broadly, and the politically complex issues will not be solved by negotiators alone ... we have heard clearly from the Parties that there are disagreements on key elements that will require political direction and we must focus high-level discussions on these points ... The COP29 Presidency is now intensifying political engagement ... the NCQG will be amongst key issues to be addressed at the Heads of Delegation retreat in Azerbaijan in July."

His letter concludes: "We are optimistic that together we can make real progress. When the world comes to COP29 in Azerbaijan, we want everyone to focus on our moral duty and collective interest to confront the climate crisis."