Nuclear Energy

50-MW plants would be for district heating and could be online in 2030.

Finnish small modular reactor startup Steady Energy has signed a letter of intent with municipal energy company Kuopion Energia that includes an option for the construction of up to five district heating reactors starting in 2030.

The agreement is a continuation of a letter of intent regarding small modular reactors signed by Steady Energy and Helsinki-based energy company Helen Energy in October. That agreement included the construction of up to 10 SMRs for district heating.

“We now have an option to build a total of 15 reactors, which would correspond to approximately 1 billion euro [$1.1bn] in turnover,” said Steady Energy chief executive officer Tommi Nyman.

“The signed letters of intent reflect the strong desire within the energy industry to develop new affordable and low-emission energy technologies for producing district heat.”

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

Steady Energy says its goal is to build the first SMR for district heating in the 2020s.

Earlier this year, Steady Energy, a spinout of Finland’s state VTT technical research centre, announced it has raised €2m ($2.2m) to kickstart the development of a project for a district heating plant powered by an SMR.

Steady Energy said it will use the money for research and development work to demonstrate the functionality of its LDR-50 nuclear plant by building a 1:1 scale mockup powered by electric heat.

The LDR (low-temperature district heating and desalination reactor) technology produces 50 MW of heat. Connection to the district heating network would be through an intermediate circuit and two heat exchangers.

Steady Energy said the LDR-50 is designed to operate at around 150 degrees Celsius and below pressure levels of 10 bar. This makes its operating conditions less demanding compared to those of traditional reactors, simplifying the requirements to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry.

• Source: https://www.ad.nl/politiek/jongeren-positief-over-kernenergie-op-klimaattop-nieuwe-centrale-bouwen-vijfenhalf-jaar-is-genoeg~a073d0ba/
• Zonder paywall: https://archive.ph/BirQV

Stap voor stap wurmt de nucleaire sector zich op het podium van de VN-klimaatconferentie. Nadat kernenergie lange tijd in het verdomhoekje zat, en wind en zon als enige oplossing werden gepropageerd, begint het atoom in Dubai feller te stralen.

Dit weekend sloegen 22 landen - waaronder Nederland, Frankrijk, de VS en Polen - de handen ineen voor een verklaring ten faveure van atoomstroom. Tussen nu en 2050 moet de hoeveelheid kernenergie verdrievoudigen, stelt de Triple Nuclear Power-verklaring. Maar niet alleen politici in Dubai, ook jongeren ijveren op de top voor de nucleaire optie.

,,Niets is onmogelijk”, jubelt de Arabische studente Ghayah Alharmoodi. Ze is tenger, 20 jaar oud en aanstekelijk vrolijk. Onder haar gewaad draagt ze een Nuclear for Climate-T-shirt. Ze is overtuigd dat zelfs het Midden-Oosten, al bijna honderd jaar de olieput van de wereld, een draai kan maken naar nucleaire energie.

Eerste in Midden-Oosten

,,Als Verenigde Arabische Emiraten geven wij het voorbeeld in de regio”, zegt de in Dubai geboren vrouw. ,,Nog maar één jaar blokken en dan wil ik aan de slag in de nieuwe Barakah-kerncentrales.” Sinds 2020 nam de golfstaat drie atoomcentrales in bedrijf - de eerste in de Arabische wereld - en een vierde volgt spoedig.

Alharmoodi is wel gewend aan metamorfoses. Ze zag haar geboortestad Dubai in twee decennia veranderen van wijken met zandwegen tot indrukwekkende metropool met het hoogste gebouw ter wereld. Een kwart van alle benodigde energie in de Emiraten komt straks uit het Barakah-complex. ,,In de Emiraten zien wij vooral de voordelen. En we geloven in onze leiders.”

Om fossiele brandstoffen te vervangen zijn wereldwijd veel meer kerncentrales nodig. Vijftig landen tonen interesse om te bouwen, zo schat King Lee van de World Nuclear Association (een koepelorganisatie van de industrie). ,,In 26 landen is de constructie, of de voorbereiding daarvan, daadwerkelijk in volle gang”, verklaart Lee in het paviljoen Net Zero Nuclear.

Maar duurt de bouw van die centrales niet vaak erg lang? ,,Als je kijkt naar wat China doet, dan is vijfenhalf jaar genoeg om een kerncentrale uit de grond te stampen”, antwoordt Lee. ,,Ze bouwen op tijd en binnen budget, net zoals de Koreanen hier hebben gedaan in de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten.”

Energiezekerheid

Ruim vijf jaar is aanmerkelijk korter dan de acht jaar waarmee Den Haag rekent voor de bouw van twee nieuwe centrales, mogelijk bij Borssele. Lee knikt. ,,Het kost tijd om de supply chain in Europa weer op te zetten. Die heb je nodig, net als bij elektrische auto’s of windturbines. En jullie raakten een deel van je kennis kwijt. In de jaren 70 en 80 zijn veel kerncentrales gebouwd, als reactie op de energiecrisis. Die energiezekerheid is nu, naast klimaat, opnieuw een reden om erin te stappen.”

De verklaring van de 22 landen, getekend in aanwezigheid van de Franse president Macron, benadrukt dat een kerncentrale relatief weinig oppervlakte behoeft. En dat kernstroom de stabiliserende factor kan zijn in een energiemix met fluctuerende zon en wind. Nucleair afschakelen, zoals Duitsland en België doen, maakt de weg naar een klimaatneutrale economie juist duurder.

,,Het gaat niet alleen om stroom voor stedelijke gebieden”, zegt de jonge kerngeleerde Amanda Nompumelelo uit Zuid-Afrika. ,,Het is ook een oplossing voor afgelegen mijnbouwprojecten.” Ze is daarom blij met het initiatieven van de 22 landen. Bijvoorbeeld de oproep aan de Wereldbank en andere financiële instellingen om kernstroom, ook voor ontwikkelingslanden, als optie te ondersteunen.

Polen werkt zelfs op drie fronten aan kernenergie. ,,In 2033 moet de eerste van drie grote kerncentrales draaien”, zegt de Poolse Jadwiga Najder, die voor de vijfde keer een klimaattop bijwoont. ,,Verder hebben chemische bedrijven interesse in de nieuwe kleine reactoren. En ten derde ontwikkelt het Poolse instituut NCBJ een reactor die zeer hoge warmte levert aan de industrie. We hebben ook geen keuze: zo’n 80 procent van onze stroom komt nu uit kolen.”

Antipathie verdwijnt

Toen Najder haar eerste klimaattop beleefde in Katowice in 2018, en ze ook de positieve kanten van kernenergie probeerde uit te dragen, was lang niet iedereen daarvan gediend. ,,We hebben een dikke huid moeten kweken. Er zit veel emotie bij tegenstanders.” Maar ze ziet die antipathie langzamerhand verdwijnen. ,,Kernenergie is niet slechts leuk om te hebben, het is essentieel om de doelen van Parijs te halen.”

Op de nucleaire faculteit van de Universiteit van Sharjah (vlakbij Dubai) waar Ghayah Alharmoodi studeert, is bijna 70 procent vrouw. ,,Het is de enige universiteit in de regio waar vrouwen deze richting kunnen volgen”, vertelt ze. Ze vindt het lastig zich de soms felle discussie over kernenergie in Europa voor te stellen. ,,Ik denk dat kernenergie een enorme stap is naar een duurzame toekomst.”

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — During the World Climate Action Summit of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change today, more than 20 countries from four continents launched the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. The Declaration recognizes the key role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and keeping the 1.5-degree goal within reach. Core elements of the declaration include working together to advance a goal of tripling nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050 and inviting shareholders of international financial institutions to encourage the inclusion of nuclear energy in energy lending policies. Endorsing countries include the United States, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, Republic of Korea, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The full text of the Declaration is below.

Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy - 02 December 2023

Recognizing the key role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions / carbon neutrality by or around mid-century and in keeping a 1.5°C limit on temperature rise within reach and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7;

Recognizing the importance of the applications of nuclear science and technology that contribute to monitoring climate change and tackling its impacts, and emphasizing the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in this regard;

Recognizing that nuclear energy is already the second-largest source of clean dispatchable baseload power, with benefits for energy security;

Recognizing that analyses from the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and World Nuclear Association show that global installed nuclear energy capacity must triple by 2050 in order to reach global net-zero emissions by the same year;

Recognizing that analysis from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows nuclear energy approximately tripling its global installed electrical capacity from 2020 to 2050 in the average 1.5°C scenario;

Recognizing that analysis from the International Energy Agency shows nuclear power more than doubling from 2020 to 2050 in global net-zero emissions by 2050 scenarios and shows that decreasing nuclear power would make reaching net zero more difficult and costly;

Recognizing that new nuclear technologies could occupy a small land footprint and can be sited where needed, partner well with renewable energy sources, and have additional flexibilities that support decarbonization beyond the power sector, including hard-to-abate industrial sectors;

Recognizing the IAEA’s activities in supporting its Member States, upon request, to include nuclear power in their national energy planning in a sustainable way that adheres to the highest standards of safety, security, and safeguards and its “Atoms4NetZero” initiative as an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange expertise;

Recognizing the importance of financing for the additional nuclear power capacity needed to keep a 1.5°C limit on temperature rise within reach;

Recognizing the need for high-level political engagement to spur further action on nuclear power;

The Participants in this pledge:

Commit to work together to advance a global aspirational goal of tripling nuclear energy capacity from 2020 by 2050, recognizing the different domestic circumstances of each Participant;

Commit to take domestic actions to ensure nuclear power plants are operated responsibly and in line with the highest standards of safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation, and that fuel waste is responsibly managed for the long term;

Commit to mobilize investments in nuclear power, including through innovative financing mechanisms;

Invite shareholders of the World Bank, international financial institutions, and regional development banks to encourage the inclusion of nuclear energy in their organizations’ energy lending policies as needed, and to actively support nuclear power when they have such a mandate, and encourage regional bodies that have the mandate to do so to consider providing financial support to nuclear energy;

Commit to supporting the development and construction of nuclear reactors, such as small modular and other advanced reactors for power generation as well as wider industrial applications for decarbonization, such as for hydrogen or synthetic fuels production;

Recognize the importance of promoting resilient supply chains, including of fuel, for safe and secure technologies used by nuclear power plants over their full life cycles;

Recognize the importance, where technically feasible and economically efficient, of extending the lifetimes of nuclear power plants that operate in line with the highest standards of safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation, as appropriate;

Commit to supporting responsible nations looking to explore new civil nuclear deployment under the highest standards of safety, sustainability, security, and non-proliferation;

Welcome and encourage complementary commitments from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, development banks, and financial institutions;

Resolve to review progress towards these commitments on an annual basis on the margins of the COP;

Call on other countries to join this declaration.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsnewcleo-partners-with-assystem-ingrop-and-onet-to-develop-lead-cooled-fast-reactor-11338690

UK-based nuclear technology company newcleo three strategic partnerships at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris with Assystem, Ingérop and Onet Technologies to develop its lead-cooled fast reactor and innovative fuel in France. This is the latest in a long line of acquisitions and agreements undertaken since the company was established in 2021.

Newcleo says it was selected as part of the “Innovative Nuclear Reactors” call for projects under the “France 2030” investment planand aims to commission a 30 MWe lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR 30) by 2030, as well as a pilot unit for the manufacture and multi-recycling of mixed oxide (mox) fuel for fast reactors. The project represents a total investment in France of €3bn ($3.3bn) between now and 2030.

The new partnerships are intended to achieve these objectives “and help accelerate the decarbonisation of the French economy and French and European industrial and energy sovereignty”. Assystem, is a major player in the energy transition and the third largest independent nuclear engineering company in the world, Ingérop, a major player in the engineering sector, and Onet Technologies, a French nuclear industry expert.

Ludovic Vandendriesche, Managing Director of newcleo SA, commented: “We are very pleased to be able to rely on the proven expertise of Assystem, Ingérop and Onet Technologies for the development of our lead-cooled fast reactor and innovative fuel plant. By partnering with these companies, which have set the standard for French nuclear engineering, newcleo is arming itself with the best technical skills needed to tackle the next phase of its development”.

To support both newcleo’s mox fuel manufacturing and multi-recycling project and the development of the LFR reactor, Assystem will provide its expertise in digital engineering structuring and tooling, integration (technical coordination and systems engineering), nuclear safety and project management. Assystem may also work on some business areas. Thomas Branche, Executive Vice-President of Assystem, said newcleo “is carrying out one of the most ambitious development projects for advanced modular reactors”. He added: “We have already been working on this project for six months, and the partnership … will help to ensure the success of this innovative project.”

The framework agreement with Ingérop will contribute expertise to the design and construction of the LFR 30 reactor and the fuel manufacturing plant including project management, civil engineering & industrial architecture, geotechnical engineering, external works, organisation of site facilities, systems engineering, 3D modelling, and building information modelling.

Onet Technologies, a subsidiary of the Onet Group, is a nuclear engineering and services company whose main mission is to support nuclear players throughout the life cycle of nuclear facilities, from the development of new nuclear projects, engineering and maintenance services for nuclear facilities, to decommissioning and radioactive waste management. To support newcleo in the commissioning of a 30 MWe demonstration and irradiation reactor and a fuel fabrication plant, Onet Technologies is deploying expertise in three main areas:

• Mechanics and mechatronics, with the design of mechanical components for the reactor’s core and the design of safety-related equipment for maintenance and operation;
• General installation studies, including functional and layout studies, studies of nuclear ventilation systems, fire protection and sizing of nuclear fluid systems; and
• Nuclear safety, security and licensing by providing analysis and simulation expertise.

Newcleo initially announced its incorporation with the closing of a $118m initial capital raising and the acquisition of Hydromine Nuclear Energy. In June 2022, it closed a €300m equity raise and contracted France's Orano for feasibility studies on the establishment of a mox production plant. In March 2023 a co-operation agreement was signed with Italy’s Enel to jointly work on its nuclear technology projects. Enel agreed to provide specialised expertise and newcleo agreed to secure an option for Enel as first investor in its first NPP.

This was rapidly followed by an equity raise of up to €1bn to fund further development. In July Newcleo signed an agreement with Italy-based shipbuilder Fincantieri and certification multinational RINA, also based in Italy, to jointly study nuclear applications to the shipping industry. In August newcleo agreed to purchase the shares of nuclear pumps group Pompes Rütschi SAS and Rütschi Fluid AG and in September signed an MOU with the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) This outlined a framework for collaboration on advanced nuclear research and development.

October saw Newcleo sign a cooperation agreement with the Tosto Group, a manufacturer of large components and pressure equipment in the chemicals, oil & gas and energy sectors, including nuclear. Newcleo also announced completion of its acquisition of Italy-based Servizi Ricerche e Sviluppo and of Fucina Italia, which focus on the design and building of nuclear systems deploying liquid lead technology. Newcleo said the acquisition was a significant milestone in its global strategy to create a global manufacturing capability through a mix of European suppliers, key partnerships and acquisitions. In November newcleo signed a five-year partnership with the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) to conduct advanced research into the economics of energy policy.

Newcleo says its mission “is to generate safe, clean, economic and practically inexhaustible energy for the world, through a radically innovative combination of existing, accessible technologies”. It claims to “capitalise on 30 years of R&D activity in metal-cooled fast reactors and liquid-lead cooling systems. Newcleo says its reactor design “has been optimised over the last 20 years leading to the concept of an ultra-compact and transportable 200 MWe module with improvements in energy density compared to other technologies”.

Currently, however, the only operating liquid metal-cooled fast reactors are in Russia, using sodium as the coolant. Russia is also constructing the world’s first lead-cooled small modular reactor (Brest-OD-300) in Seversk as part of a facility to demonstrate an on-site closed fuel cycle, including novel fuel fabrication. This reactor, based on decades of complex research and development, and supported by the entire Russian nuclear industry, is due to begin operation in 2029. It remains to be seen whether newcleo, despite its growing list of acquisitions and co-operation agreements, will be able to meet its target of deploying a LFR in France in 2030.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-energy-no-longer-a-taboo,-WNE-hears

Much progress has been made over recent years in the representation of nuclear in national, regional and international debates on energy and the climate, speakers agreed at the opening session of the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) in Paris this week.

"In my speech [to WNE] two years ago, I dared to say the following: 'Nuclear power might be ready to make a comeback'," noted Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency. "Today I can assure you nuclear is making a strong comeback, a very strong comeback."

He said this comeback was happening due to several factors. Firstly, there are some countries with established nuclear industries that have changed their mind on reducing or phasing out their use of nuclear energy. Meanwhile, there is a "growing appetite for nuclear power" around the world, with some countries taking the decision to construct nuclear power plants. "China, India, France, the USA, Canada, Poland. Many, many countries are now looking at nuclear power much more closely and with the greater interest," Birol said.

Energy security, environmental concerns - especially climate change - and the competitiveness of nuclear have been the three main driving forces for changes in attitudes among governments and investors, he added.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also noted there have been "a number of very, very encouraging facts that have been taking place" since the previous WNE.

"Fatih was rightly saying countries one after the other, perhaps with one exception, have been reviewing, revising, or annotating previous decisions in what I would call more than a nuclear renaissance, more a return to common sense."

Grossi said there had been some positive developments for nuclear in several countries, including the restart of several Japanese reactors, a reversal of South Korea's nuclear phase-out policy, the start of construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt and the grid connection of new reactors in the UAE and the USA.

"All of this might indicate that we are in an extremely positive situation, but we are not," he said. "The reality is that all of these very positive developments are adding much less nuclear than what we actually need.

"For these figures to improve, for this trend to be consolidated, of course there are a number of things that need to happen and I think it is important that we face this and that we are clear about this situation. One important thing, of course, has been and will be a number of political decisions that need to be taken. Without the right political decision, of course, we may have a number of very convincing argument but nothing is going to change."

Birol said the nuclear industry has three priorities. Firstly, it should increase the capacity of nuclear power plants. "There's huge room for that and a huge appetite for that," he said. Secondly, the lifetime of existing reactors should be extended. "In my view, it is the cheapest source of clean electricity generation and I see that there is a growing appetite across the world." Thirdly, he said, there needs to be innovation, such as small modular reactors (SMRs).

On financing, Grossi said: "We are still living in an environment that is charged with, in some cases, statutory provisions for international financing institutions that prevent, black on white, prevent nuclear projects to be financed. This has definitely to change."

Birol echoed this by saying that because nuclear power was capital intensive the sector is unlikely to grow without government support. "There should be genuine government support, as governments support other clean energy options." He said investment should also be facilitated by the multilateral development banks (MDB). "I do not know why the MDBs up to now did not show enough interest in nuclear investment, especially life time extensions and small modular reactors."

The nuclear sector has come a long way when it comes to its representation at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings. Speaking of COP28, starting in Dubai, Grossi said: "I can tell you that for the first time - imagine, it's been 27 cops - but never ever before, countries that use nuclear energy were ready to say it at one point. It was a taboo for the COPs. Nuclear was not something that was considered as part of a solution. And this time all the countries that are using nuclear energy are going to proudly stand together and say that for them, at the COP, that nuclear is part of that solution."

Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market at the European Commission, also speaking in the opening session, added: "Coming here, it was so strange to see how vibrant the whole industry is. It's amazing. I would tell you that nuclear is no more a taboo, even in the European Commission."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Indian-unit-reaches-construction-milestone

Hot conditioning of unit 7 at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant has been completed, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd has announced. The unit is the third in a series of indigenously designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors.

"Unit 7 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Project 7&8 … achieved a major milestone of successful completion of Hot Conditioning of the Primary Heat Transport (PHT) system on November 30, 2023," NPCIL said. "Hot conditioning is a commissioning process to develop an adherent protective layer of magnetite in inner surfaces of carbon steel piping of the PHT system. Hot conditioning was achieved by circulating light water of controlled chemistry through the PHT system, maintaining a temperature around 256°C and pressure of about 100 kg/cm2."

This is a prelude to "further commissioning activities" including fuel loading and first criticality, the company added.

Two 700 MWe PHWRs are under construction at the plant at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, where five PHWR units are currently in operation (one unit, the 90 MWe (net) Rajasthan 1, was permanently closed in 2004 after more than 30 years in operation). Construction of units 7 and 8 began in 2011 and once they are completed, the installed capacity at the site will increase to 2580 MW, NPCIL said.

The first Indian-designed 700 MWe PHWR, Kakrapar 3, began commercial operation earlier this year and fuel loading began at the second, Kakrapar 4, in October.

In addition, four Russian-supplied 1000 MWe VVER pressurised water reactors are currently under construction at Kudankulam: units 3 and 4, under construction since 2017, and units 5 and 6, under construction since 2021. A 500 MWe prototype fast breeder reactor is also under construction at Kalpakkam.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Texas-uranium-operation-returns-to-production

Uranium production has begun at enCore Energy Corp's South Texas Rosita Central Processing Plant (CPP). The restart of the plant which last produced yellowcake in 2008 is the first step in enCore's South Texas in-situ leach uranium production pipeline strategy.

In-situ leach, or ISL, recovers minerals from porous orebodies by chemical leaching in wellfields, and is also known as in-situ recovery. The wellfield production patterns are now operating at Rosita, enCore said, with oxygenated water circulating through the satellite ion exchange (IX) facility and being injected back into the uranium ore body. Uranium concentrations in the production wells are "meeting expectations", and the company said it expects to make its first shipment of yellowcake "over the course of the next 45 to 60 days".

Rosita has undergone refurbishment since enCore acquired it from Westwater Resources - formerly Uranium Resources Inc (URI) in 2021.

"It is with great satisfaction that in less than 20 months' time, the enCore team completed the refurbishment and upgrading of the Rosita CPP from long-term cold standby to monitor well ring installation, wellfield pattern and infrastructure installation, and construction of a new satellite IX facility," enCore CEO Paul Goranson said. "Our team has aggressively worked through supply chain disruptions and a significant expansion of our operating workforce to meet our targeted production schedule. We are very pleased to have our first uranium production under way at enCore, and we are honoured to be both the first uranium producer in Texas in 10 years and the newest uranium producer in the United States. With these monumental achievements at hand, we continue to push for our second uranium processing plant, the Alta Mesa CPP, to commence production in early 2024."

The Rosita CPP, about 60 miles from Corpus Christi, Texas, has a capacity of 800,000 pounds U3O8 (308 tU) per year and is designed to process uranium feed from multiple satellite operations in the South Texas area.

The plant produced some 2.64 million pounds U3O8 between 1990 and 1999, when production was halted due to low uranium prices. Production restarted for a few months in 2008, but technical difficulties, coupled with a sharp decline in uranium prices, led to the decision by then-owner Uranium Resources Inc (URI) to suspend production activities that October. Several years later - in 2015 - the company was considering dismantling the Rosita plant and shipping it to Turkey for use at the Temrezli uranium deposit, but the Turkish government later revoked its exploration and mining permits for the deposit.

URI, by now renamed Westwater Resources, sold its US uranium assets including Rosita to enCore in 2021.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Japan-and-EU-mark-first-plasma-from-JT-60SA-fusion

The successful operation of the Japan Torus-60 Super Advanced (JT-60SA) fusion device, the world's largest operational superconducting tokamak, has been marked by Japan and the European Union in a ceremony to inaugurate the facility.

Work on the device began in 2007 and resulted from the Broader Approach Agreement between the European Union and Japan, a scientific collaboration to promote know-how in fusion through various projects. Construction at Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology in Naka was completed in 2020 with first plasma in October this year. The total cost is estimated to have been EUR560 million (USD608 million).

At the ceremony European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, pictured above left, Japan’s Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Masahito Moriyama, pictured centre, and Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Sanae Takaichi, pictured right, plus other senior politicians and industry representatives were able to witness a plasma operation from the control room.

Fusion for Energy managed the EU's contribution to the project including fabrication of components by Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Its director Marc Lachaise said: "What happens here today will matter tomorrow for the contribution of fusion in a carbon-free energy mix. JT-60SA is key to the international fusion roadmap because it provides a one-of-a-kind possibility to learn, operate this unique fusion device and to share that valuable knowledge with ITER. Also, it allows European research laboratories and industry, jointly with Japan, to work hand-in-hand developing a meaningful partnership."

The JT-60SA is a doughnut-shaped (toroidal) device known as a tokamak. It operates with hydrogen, with the gas being heated to 200 million degrees Celsius to become plasma and then confined for about 100 seconds using the powerful magnet system formed by 28 superconducting coils.

It is the closest facility in design to the giant international ITER fusion project under construction in France, but at about 13.7 metres across and 15.4 metres high, it is not as big. One of the 2600-tonne facility's roles will be to perform modelling to help scientists prepare as much as possible for the beginning of ITER's operation.

A total of 500 researchers from Europe and Japan have been involved, and more than 70 suppliers have contributed to the manufacturing of its components. With manufacturing lessons learned for ITER as well as helping train a new generation of fusion experts, it is also intended that the facility will help scientists design future fusion power plants.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-awarded-for-construction-of-Shin-Hanul-3

A consortium led by Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been selected by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the contractor for the construction of the main facilities at units 3 and 4 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant.

The winning bid - from a consortium comprising Hyundai E&C, Doosan Enerbility and Posco E&C - was selected following a "comprehensive review and approval system" that was applied for the first time in the field of nuclear power plant construction, KHNP said. The contract is worth KRW3.1 trillion (USD2.3 billion).

The main facility construction refers to the installation and commissioning of civil engineering, architecture, machinery, electricity, piping, and measurement for the major facilities of a nuclear power plant.

In November 2014, KHNP signed an agreement with Ulchin County to build Shin Hanul 3 and 4. The company applied for a construction licence for the units in January 2016. Site preparation for the two units was originally scheduled to begin in May 2017, with commercial operation of unit 3 scheduled for December 2022, with unit 4 following a year later.

However, KHNP announced in May 2017 that it had instructed Kepco Engineering & Construction - which signed a design contract in March 2016 - to suspend work for the planned units as a result of the then new President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power. Work towards licensing the new units was to continue.

President Yoon Suk-yeol - who assumed power in May 2022 - has reversed former President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power. In July last year, Yoon encouraged a speedy restoration of the country's "nuclear power plant ecosystem" after Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang set out plans for revitalising South Korea's nuclear power industry, including the aim for work on Shin Hanul 3 and 4 to resume as early as 2024.

In March this year, KHNP and Doosan Enerbility signed a KRW2.9 trillion (USD2.2 billion) contract for the supply of the main equipment for Shin Hanul 3 and 4. Under the contract - which will run for 10 years - Doosan Enerbility will supply the nuclear reactors, steam generators and turbine generators for the two APR1400 units. A ceremony to mark the start of production of the main components for Shin Hanul 3 and 4 was held last month.

Preparatory groundwork began for the construction of the two APR1400s following the approval by the South Korean government of the project's implementation plan in June this year.

Construction of the units is expected to begin in April next year when a construction permit is set to be granted. Shin Hanul unit 3 is scheduled to be completed by 2032, and unit 4 by 2033.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Swedish-nuclear-bill-passed-by-parliament

Sweden's parliament has approved a bill that will clear the way for new nuclear power in the country by removing the current limit on the number of nuclear reactors in operation, as well as allowing reactors to be built on new sites. The amendment will enter into force on 1 January.

The Riksdag voted in favour of the government's legislative proposal on new nuclear power in Sweden on Wednesday.

"The legislative amendments will allow for new reactors to be constructed in locations other than Forsmark, Ringhals and Oskarshamn. In addition to this, it will be permitted for more than 10 reactors to be in operation at the same time," the Riksdag said.

"The Riksdag shares the Government’s assessment that fossil-free electricity from nuclear power will also continue to play a role of central importance in the Swedish energy mix. The main reasons for this are an expected greater demand for electricity in combination with the fact that fossil fuels have to be phased out, particularly for climate reasons. Nuclear power also contributes to the stable and predictable functioning of the Swedish power system."

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari formally presented a proposal to amend Sweden's legislation on nuclear power, which limited to 10 the number of reactors in operation and only allowed reactors to be built at existing sites. The proposed legislative amendments were open for consultation for three months.

The Swedish government recently unveiled a roadmap envisaging the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with up to ten new large-scale reactors coming online by 2045.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Urenco-agrees-supply-deal-with-Energoatom-to-2035

The contract will see Urenco continuing to supply Ukraine's Energoatom with enriched uranium until 2035, with an option to extend the contract to 2043.

The contract was signed by Energoatom President Petro Kotin (pictured above, centre) and Urenco CEO Boris Schucht (third from the right) during the World Nuclear Exhibition 2023 in Paris.

Urenco, a UK-Dutch-German company, has worked with Energoatom since 2009. Since it has ended links with Russian nuclear fuel, Energoatom's sole supplier for fuel assemblies for its power plants has been Westinghouse Electric Sweden, with the enriched uranium used for that fuel manufacture supplied by Urenco. Energotaom said that the current supply contracts with Urenco - for enriched uranium product and natural uranium hexafluoride - expire in 2025.

Kotin said: "Energoatom and Urenco already have a positive experience of cooperation, so that the signing of the contract is another step towards ensuring the energy independence of our country for years to come. Urenco's global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the USA and the UK."

Schucht said: "Since the outbreak of the conflict, it has been more important than ever that Urenco plays its part to assist Ukraine to generate power for the country. We have provided support to our customer Energoatom, and its employees, and increased our supply of nuclear enrichment services to them to help enable energy independence and security of supply. This latest agreement will continue our productive working relationship."

The UK's minister for nuclear, Andrew Bowie, said the contract would "help secure Ukraine's energy independence in the years to come".

Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the manufacture of nuclear fuel was crucial for national security which was why the country was working on "ramping up such production and strengthening cooperation with international partners".

Ukraine has 15 reactors - including the six at Zaporizhzhia which have been under Russian military control since early March 2022 - whose combined capacity generates about half of its electricity. The country is looking to the West for new nuclear capacity, large and small, including an agreement with Westinghouse to build nine AP1000 reactors at established sites.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Podcast-Building-beautiful-nuclear-power-plants

We hear from an award-winning architect on the benefits of designing nuclear power plants that make people feel good .. plus Sweden's nuclear expansion features in the news round-up.

Technology and function, ensuring their reliable and safe operation have long been the priorities when designing nuclear power plants. But why can't they look beautiful too? Dutch architect and designer Erick van Egeraat says that part of the way to continue to build public support for nuclear energy is to make nuclear power plants look good, "to make people feel good" when they see them.

The award-winning professor and director of Design Erick van Egeraat outlined his thinking at World Nuclear Symposium, explaining the background to the work he is doing at Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built in Turkey.

In the World Nuclear News monthly round-up, Warwick Pipe reports on Sweden's plans for a "massive" expansion of nuclear energy and Claire Maden covers the end of NuScale and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems' Carbon Free Power Project.

And David Hess looks at how the conversation about nuclear has evolved and changed during his 14 years at World Nuclear Association.

Landmark statement says reactors can help tackle the ‘existential challenge of a rapidly warming planet’.

The goal of global net zero carbon emissions can only be reached by 2050 with swift, sustained and significant investment in nuclear energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a landmark statement supported by dozens of countries at Cop28 in Dubai today (1 December).

The Vienna-based UN nuclear agency said in a statement announced by director-general Rafael Grossi that the world needs nuclear power to fight climate change and action should be taken to expand the use of this clean energy source and help build “a low-carbon bridge” to the future.

It was the first time such an IAEA statement was issued, its broad international backing underlining increased global interest in nuclear power to tackle the “existential challenge of a rapidly warming planet”.

The IAEA said the statement is a further indication of a new momentum for nuclear power as a source of reliable low-carbon energy, needed also to meet growing electricity demand and achieve sustainable economic development.

Nuclear power has the potential to play a wider role in the quest towards net zero carbon emissions, the statement said. It can help to decarbonise district heating, desalination, industry processes and hydrogen production.

According to the IAEA, nuclear power emits no greenhouse gasses when it is produced and contributes to energy security and the stability of the power grid, while facilitating the broader uptake of solar and wind power.

Locally, it cuts air pollution, which is one of today’s biggest public health crises causing the death of eight million people a year.

SMRs Can Make Nuclear ‘Easier To Build’

Innovative technologies, including small modular reactors, can make nuclear power easier to build, more flexible to deploy and more affordable, which is of particular importance to developing countries.

The agency said that to “build a low-carbon bridge” to the future operating nuclear power plants should remain online.

Grossi said that “achieving a fair and enabling investment environment for new nuclear projects remains an uphill battle. We are not at a level playing field, yet, when it comes to financing nuclear projects.”

“Analysts widely agree that nuclear power capacity will need to more than double by 2050 for current climate goals to be reached. We will need even more capacity to go beyond the electricity grid and decarbonise transport and industry,” he told the IAEA board of governors last month.

According to the IAEA, 412 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries make up more than 370 GW of installed capacity, providing almost 10% of the world’s total electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon supply. Several countries – including Bangladesh, Egypt and Turkey – are building their first nuclear power plants, while many others have also decided to introduce nuclear energy. Existing nuclear power countries, including China, France, India and Sweden, are planning to expand their nuclear programmes.

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Source: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/net-zero-needs-nuclear-power-iaea-says-in-landmark-statement-backed-by-dozens-of-countries-at-cop28

The world needs nuclear power to fight climate change and action should be taken to expand the use of this clean energy source and help build “a low carbon bridge” to the future, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a landmark statement supported by dozens of countries at COP28 today.

Announced by Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at a high-profile event of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, it was the first time such an IAEA statement was issued, its broad international backing underlining increased global interest in nuclear power to tackle the existential challenge of a rapidly warming planet.

The statement is a further indication of a new momentum for nuclear power as a source of reliable low carbon energy, needed also to meet growing electricity demand and achieve sustainable economic development.

“The IAEA and its Member States that are nuclear energy producers and those working with the IAEA to promote the benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear energy acknowledge that all available low emission technologies should be recognized and actively supported,” the statement read by Director General Grossi said.

“Net zero needs nuclear power,” it said. “Nuclear power emits no greenhouse gasses when it is produced and contributes to energy security and the stability of the power grid, while facilitating the broader uptake of solar and wind power.”

Today, 412 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries make up more than 370 gigawatts of installed capacity, providing almost 10 per cent of the world’s total electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon supply. Several countries – including Bangladesh, Egypt and Türkiye – are building their first nuclear power plants, while many others have also decided to introduce nuclear energy. In addition, existing nuclear power countries, including China, France, India and Sweden to name a few, are planning to expand their nuclear programmes.

“Studies confirm that the goal of global net zero carbon emissions can only be reached by 2050 with swift, sustained and significant investment in nuclear energy,” the statement said.

It underlined the importance of innovations in the nuclear sector such as small modular reactors that aim to make nuclear power easier to build, more flexible to deploy and more affordable. In addition, "continuous plant life management and refurbishment ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of our existing fleet, allowing it to provide decarbonized energy to the electric grid and other sectors,” the statement said.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, nuclear power has avoided the release of some 30 gigatonnes of greenhouse gases. It can also contribute to addressing climate change in areas apart from generating electricity, notably in helping to decarbonize district heating, desalination, industry processes and hydrogen production, the statement highlighted.

“Resilient and robust nuclear power has the potential to play a wider role in the quest towards net zero carbon emissions, while ensuring the highest level of nuclear safety and security,” it said.

Director General Grossi said that “achieving a fair and enabling investment environment for new nuclear projects remains an uphill battle. We are not at a level playing field, yet, when it comes to financing nuclear projects.”

“Analysts widely agree that nuclear power capacity will need to more than double by 2050 for current climate goals to be reached. We will need even more capacity to go beyond the electricity grid and decarbonize transport and industry,” he told the IAEA Board of Governors last month.

In a further step to enhance the prominence of nuclear power, leaders from around the world will gather in Brussels in March next year for the first-ever Nuclear Energy Summit, hosted jointly by the IAEA and Belgium.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SMR-fuel-supply-chain-grows-as-agreements-signed

Ontario Power Generation has selected suppliers Cameco, Urenco USA, Orano and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas for the first fuel contracts for its planned small modular reactor (SMR) units at the Darlington New Nuclear Project, while TerraPower and uranium producer Uranium Energy Corp are to work together on the fuel supply chain ahead of the construction of the first-of-a-kind Natrium plant.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between TerraPower, which is planning to build the Natrium demonstration project at Kemmerer in Wyoming, and Uranium Energy Corp (UEC) has the goal of re-establishing domestic US supply chains of uranium fuel. It will also allow the two companies to explore the potential supply of uranium for TerraPower's first-of-kind Natrium reactor and energy storage system, they said.

The Natrium technology is a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor coupled with a molten salt-based energy storage system than can boost power output to 500 MW to serve peak demand. Earlier this year, TerraPower awarded contracts to four companies to supply services and equipment for the demonstration project, and signed an MoU with Centrus Energy Corp aimed at establishing commercial-scale, US production capabilities for the high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) the reactor will need.

UEC's Wyoming production platform includes a portfolio of more than 20 uranium projects including four that are fully permitted for in-situ leach production including the Irigaray Central Processing Plant and Christensen Ranch ISR facilities in Johnson County, Wyoming where UEC's initial production will be focused.

The MoU between TerraPower and UEC is a "great step forward" for Wyoming's uranium industry, its Governor Mark Gordon said. "TerraPower chose Wyoming as a partner for their Natrium advanced nuclear reactor plant. Once again, they are demonstrating leadership and commitment to a nuclear future in Wyoming through this MoU with Uranium Energy Corp."

"TerraPower continues to move forward in bringing the Natrium reactor to market, and that includes establishing our fuel supply chain," said the company's President and CEO Chris Levesque. "A robust, domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel is crucial as we deploy the next generation of nuclear energy."

UEC President and CEO Amir Adnani said the company was pleased to form strategic relationships that support the emerging uranium demand from SMRs and advanced reactors. "In these geopolitically complex times, UEC's vision is to be the leading provider of conflict-free, American uranium for the existing, as well as the new reactors that will come online," he said.

OPG selects suppliers

OPG plans to finish building the first of a fleet of four GE-HItcahi BWRX-300 SMRs at its Darlington New Nuclear site by the end of 2028, and to get the unit online by the end of 2029. It has now announced that it has selected four companies from Canada, the USA and France to partner with to ensure a fuel supply for the first of those units.

Canadian company Cameco will be contracted to supply natural uranium hexafluoride; US-based, Urenco USA will provide uranium enrichment services from its operations in Eunice, New Mexico; France's Orano will provide additional enriched uranium product from its operations in France; and GE-led, US-based, joint venture Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas LLC will provide fuel fabrication and related technical services and fuel assemblies.

These "historic arrangements" signal a strengthening nuclear fuel supply chain and the self-sufficiency of nations that are developing nuclear generation to decarbonise their economies, the company said.

"Access to clean energy at large scale is becoming a key determinant of a country's competitiveness and security," OPG President and CEO Ken Hartwick said. "Because of our leadership in nuclear generation and supply chains, Ontario and Canada are well-positioned to work with companies from like-minded ally nations to send an important message to the world that a safe, secure, clean global energy system is achievable through nuclear power."

The announcement sees OPG become Urenco's first commercial customer for enrichment services in Canada as well as being also the first customer to sign a long-term fuel supply agreement for an SMR, Urenco said.

"New nuclear technology will play a vital part in both the decarbonisation of electricity and the strengthening of energy security around the world," Urenco Chief Commercial Officer Laurent Odeh said. "Urenco has the knowledge and experience to play a leading role in the supply of enriched uranium for the reactors of tomorrow and is proud to be a supplier for this innovative and exciting project in Canada with our newest customer, OPG."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclearelectrica-and-Framatome-in-Lutetium-177-agr

Romania's Nuclearelectrica and France's Framatome have signed a cooperation agreement on exploring the production of the medical isotope lutetium-177 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

A technical feasibility study will be conducted, based on Framatome's work on isotope production in Canada. The agreement will look at how to "maximise the existing infrastructure to convert target into medical isotopes".

Lutetium-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy to treat prostate cancer by destroying cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

François Gauché, Director of Framatome Healthcare, said: "We are excited about this project with Nuclearelectrica. Mass access to nuclear medicine is closely linked to the development of large scale, reliable and diversified supply chains and we want to play our part in the fight against cancer by helping build these supply chains, to better serve the patients in the future, we will need regional nuclear medicine production hubs and this project is a great opportunity to strengthen the supply chain in Europe."

Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, said: "This partnership is a significant step to help improve the health of millions of people and demonstrate the multiple benefits of nuclear power plants, which generate clean energy, contribute to energy stability, decarbonisation and economic growth. In light of recent developments in the medical isotope market, the need for a secure supply of medical isotopes is increasing, and therefore we believe that this is the perfect time to pursue this opportunity for a medical isotope production project in CNE Cernavoda."

Framatome Healthcare, through its Isogen joint venture with Canada's Kinectrics, was involved in an international collaboration with Bruce Power and ITM Isotope Technologies Munic SE, last year to produce lutetium-177 from a commercial nuclear power reactor for the first time, at Bruce Power's Unit 7, which, like Cernavoda, is a Candu pressurised heavy water reactor.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/MHI-selected-to-build-new-Japanese-research-reacto

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been selected to design, produce and install a new research reactor at the Monju site in a project led by Japan's national nuclear research and development agency.

The company was selected through a competitive process and has now signed a basic contract with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) under which it is to handle all work related to the development of the new research reactor, and will commence construction.

The new test and research reactor is an experimental facility and will conduct research and development using neutrons, a type of radiation.

The site at Tsuruga City in Fukuis Prefecture was home to the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor. The 280 MWe reactor initially started up in 1994 but only operated for a few months before a sodium leak led to it being shut down. It restarted in 2010 but again only operated for a very short time before it was again put out of action when refuelling equipment fell into the reactor vessel during a refuelling outage. The equipment was subsequently retrieved and replaced, but Japanese nuclear regulators did not permit the reactor to restart.

The government announced in December 2016 that the idled fast breeder reactor would be decommissioned, and a new research reactor built at the site. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology led a process to determine what that reactor should be used for and in 2020 selected the JAEA, Kyoto University and the University of Fukui to lead conceptual design and operation of the new research reactor.

MHI said it has already completed many construction projects for atomic energy plants, including construction projects and renovations to meet new regulations at Japanese pressurised water reactors. The company also played a leading role in the construction of JAEA's previous test reactor, the high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) at Oarai, which opened in 1998.

It also oversaw the closing of the Monju prototype fast breeder, and said it was able to coordinate the development of the new research reactor with activities at the shut-down plant to ensure that the construction process is carried out smoothly. Decommissioning of the prototype reactor is expected to take 30 years to complete.

Earlier this year, MHI was selected by Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy - part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry - as the core company to lead the development of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor programme, and by the Japanese government to lead the conceptual design of a demonstration sodium-cooled fast reactor that is to enter operation in the 2040s.

"MHI will utilise the technical capabilities it has accumulated thus far as it works on the development of the new research reactor as a core company," it said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Framatome-seeking-site-for-UK-nuclear-fuel-facilit

French company Framatome is planning the construction of a nuclear fuel fabrication facility in the UK as part of its plans to scale-up its operations in the country. In a separate development it also announced it was setting up a joint venture with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.

The company says that the proposed facility in the UK will manufacture nuclear fuel for large pressurised water reactors and for light water small modular reactors - these categories include parent company EDF's two EPRs under construction at Hinkley Point C and proposed similar-sized development at Sizewell C.

Consultation about possible locations - at existing and former nuclear sites - for the fabrication facility is taking place with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with the company aiming for "detailed site justification and pre-licensing studies" in 2024 with the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome, said: "We have been supporting the UK nuclear power market for over 25 years ... we remain deeply committed to helping the country meet its net zero targets. This multi-design fuel fabrication facility will help reduce UK reliance on imports and strengthen security of fuel supply through a diverse and resilient supply chain."

Framatome and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation

At the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, Framatome, which is 75% owned by EDF, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries holding 19.5% and Assystem 5%, also signed an agreement to create a joint venture with Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) to provide nuclear fuel for its fourth-generation Micro-Modular Reactor (MMR) and other advanced reactor designs. The fuel will include Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) particles and USNC’s proprietary Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM) fuel.

Framatome's manufacturing and regulatory licensing are to be amended, with the company having notified the USA's Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its intent to submit the amendments next summer. The need to secure sufficient supplies of fuel continues to be one of the key challenges for developers of advanced nuclear reactors.

Framatome CEO Fontana said: "Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation is at the forefront of the next generation of nuclear energy, and together, we are committed to developing new opportunities in the nuclear energy industry through this joint venture. Combining our unmatched manufacturing expertise and experience in regulatory compliance, and USNC’s advanced reactor designs, we are ready to support rapid expansion of fourth-generation nuclear power to meet the projected growth and demand for safe, reliable, clean energy in the US and global markets."

Francesco Venneri, CEO of Ultra Safe Nuclear, said: "Framatome’s leadership in nuclear energy is built in part on a solid foundation of excellence, innovation, quality and delivery of increasingly high-performance, advanced fuels. This joint venture brings Framatome’s high-quality capabilities and high-confidence capacity together with Ultra Safe Nuclear’s breakthrough fuel technologies and intrinsically safe design to fuel the MMR."

USNC's MMR is a 45 MW thermal, 15 MW electrical high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, using TRISO fuel in prismatic graphite blocks. The graphite blocks contain stacks of ceramic FCM fuel pellets. The helium-cooled reactor can be flexibly fuelled with uranium enrichments from 9% to 19.75% and will have an initial licensed nuclear plant lifetime of 40 years.

The company is currently working on deployment projects at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' Chalk River site in Ontario, Canada, and at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the USA.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-to-shine-at-COP28,-says-Bilbao-y-Leon

The nuclear energy industry will be highly visible at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), taking place in Dubai over the coming weeks, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León told delegates at the World Nuclear Exhibition 2023 in Paris.

Nuclear energy, she said, has not been given much prominence at previous COP conferences. However, "for the first time, nuclear energy, which was once the victim of political posturing, is being incorporated whole-heartedly into the climate change conversations and the mitigation plans of many, many, many countries, and certainly we are seen as a positive force at the COP meetings".

This change in stance on nuclear has resulted from "the efforts of several generations of nuclear professionals that have participated in many COPs from the very beginning", Bilbao y León said. In addition, teams of the global nuclear trade associations have also contributed.

"More recently, since Paris, COP21, we need to thank the advocates at the Nuclear for Climate Initiative," she added. "Because all these friends and colleagues of yours have been carrying the nuclear torch at climate change conferences for more than 20 years. They have been doing that at times in the face of quite aggressive opposition."

However, she noted that things have changed "dramatically" over the past couple of years. At COP27, held in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022, there was the first Atoms for Climate Pavilion, a collaboration between the International Atomic Energy Agency and global nuclear trade associations. Bilbao y León said this was "truly a turning point in how nuclear is presented at COP meetings".

"Not only did we challenge the preconceptions that many people have about nuclear energy, but we also laid the groundwork to actually make sure that nuclear energy is perceived in a manner that is much more positive and inclusive in the context of climate change," she said. "I think what we are seeing in the COP microcosmos is actually a reflection of what we are seeing in the global situation all over the world. We are seeing a new interest in nuclear energy."

She said that an all-inclusive approach is needed so that all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, can play a role in creating a sustainable, net-zero global energy future. "To become a reality, the global capacity of nuclear energy needs to multiply by three," Bilbao y León noted.

"Today we have 60 gigawatts of new nuclear under construction all over the world and knowing that it takes 6-7 years for a large nuclear power plant to be built on average, all these reactors will be up and running by 2030," she said. "We also have more that are planned, and we are starting to see them moving forward. And of course, we have many exciting new projects with small modular reactors and advanced technologies. So we are going to see many of these demonstration projects become a reality this decade."

However, in order to achieve a trebling in nuclear capacity, the industry needs to "turn this political good will that we are starting to see into actionable and pragmatic policies". Licensing and regulatory processes need to streamlined and affordable financing must be secured. In addition, the supply chain and human resources must be expanded.

"We are going to need to bring together governments because at the end of the day our policymakers are the ones that are going to set these bold and pragmatic policies and energy markets," Bilbao y León said. "But then we in the nuclear industry need to work together with them because ultimately it is you, all of you, that are going to build and operate this nuclear future."

Looking ahead to COP28, which starts in Dubai on 30 November, she said the summit "will be a very pragmatic and realistic COP and frankly this is the right time for our industry to really shine and show that not only are we talking about the delivery, but we are already putting in place what is needed to provide these goals."

World Nuclear Association, together with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, have initiated the Net Zero Nuclear platform "to increase the visibility of nuclear energy by bringing together governments, the industry and civil society".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Orano-packaging-model-receives-US-approval

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Orano's TN Eagle nuclear packaging model for the transport and dry storage of used fuel.

Orano's latest generation packaging model has an innovative design and modular structure, which meets the different needs of power plant operators by improving safety and competitiveness, the company said. It was approved in 2020 by the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN), in accordance with the latest regulations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), after "rigorous testing" to demonstrate its robustness and resistance to extreme transport conditions. However, the format for storing used fuel in canisters in the USA meant the design has had to be adapted for use there.

"NRC approval is a key step allowing us to continue our developments in the transport of used nuclear fuel in the United States," Frédéric de Agostini, senior executive vice president of Orano's Nuclear Packages & Services activities, said. "The result of the innovative design of the Orano teams allows us to divide the number of the transport packaging parts by ten and significantly reduce manufacturing times while increasing safety and competitiveness. The TN Eagle is a real technological breakthrough compared to other models on the market."

Construction began in February 2023 of a new factory at the port of Cherbourg in France to manufacture the TN Eagle, with the support of the France Relance investment fund. Commissioning of the TN Eagle 4.0 factory is expected to take place in 2024, the company said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/AtkinsRealis-unveils-new-advanced-Candu-design

The 1000 MW Candu Monark, a Generation III+ reactor with the highest output of any Candu technology, is currently in the definition phase, the company said at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, and will feature simplified construction and a 70-year operating life.

The design leverages the "tested and reliable" design features of existing Candu technology together with the most modern and advanced engineering solutions, the company said. Building on the commercial success of currently operating Candu units and decades of design development since, the new design features a larger output of 1,000 MW, improved cost per megawatt-hour, a longer operating life of 70 years, sustainable design principles to minimise environmental impact, the latest in robotics, predictive maintenance and high integration with flexible electricity grids of the future.

The technology is designed to include full interoperability with digital twin technology, reducing construction, operation, and maintenance costs, and the company says it is the easiest reactor in its Candu portfolio to build, operate and maintain.

The reactor has been designed with maintenance in mind, while incorporating a module-based construction strategy which, when combined with digital delivery concepts, will mean the Candu Monark "will be constructed faster and with lower risk". Comprehensive 'defence in depth' includes two independent, equally effective systems that can shut down the reactor without power, and without the need for operator intervention.

The new design leverages the existing strengths of proven Candu designs, including the use of natural uranium as a fuel source, on-power refuelling, and online maintenance. Its footprint and flexible siting requirements mean the reactors can be situated on existing fossil fuel power plant sites, where transmission and distribution lines already exist, for easy integration into an energy grid. The design can also integrate a hydrogen production plant and storage facility into the plant, as well as using surplus heat from the plant to make hydrogen generation more efficient and like today's Candus, the reactor have the ability to produce medical radioisotopes.

AtkinsRéalis President and CEO Ian Edwards said the development of the latest reactor design continues the company's "distinguished legacy" from over 70 years of innovation. "We are the current original equipment manufacturer and steward of CANDU technology; these modern large-scale reactors will play a critical role in producing the quantum of additional electricity supply that’s required to power the energy transition, providing energy security and reliable, clean power for millions of people," he said.

Earlier this year the government of Ontario announced the start of pre-development work to build up to 4800 MWe of new nuclear capacity at Bruce Power's existing site, in what would be Canada's first large-scale nuclear build in more than 30 years. The Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator’s 2022 Pathways to Decarbonization report found that the province which is already home to most of Canada's existing nuclear generation capacity will need to build another 18 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2050, the company noted.

The Canadian government is also providing export financing to support the construction of additional Candu reactors at Cernavoda in Romania.

"Canadian nuclear technologies are known around the world as being one of the best," said Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development for Canada.

"In fact, Candu reactors are synonymous with Canada. The new Candu Monark reactor design will ensure Candu technology remains front and centre amid growing interest in nuclear energy around the world as part of the clean energy transition."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Large-module-installed-at-Lianjiang-1

The CA20 module is 20.6 metres long, 14.2 metres wide and 21 metres high and weighs just over 1000 tonnes. It was hoisted into place in the first unit of the Guangdong Lianjiang Nuclear Power Project in a near-four hour operation.

The cuboid-shaped CA20 module will comprise plant and equipment for used fuel storage, transmission, the heat exchanger and waste collection, among other things.

It means that construction continues to progress at the first of two CAP1000 units planned as the initial phase of the plant, which will eventually house six such reactors.

The construction of the first two 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors - the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000 - at the Lianjiang site was approved by China's State Council in September 2022. Excavation works for the units began in the same month, with the pouring of first concrete for the foundation of unit 1 completed at the end of September this year. Lianjiang unit 1 is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2028.

Once all six CAP1000 units at the site are completed, the annual power generation will be about 70.2 TWh, which will reduce standard coal consumption by over 20 million tonnes, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 52 million tonnes, sulphur dioxide by about 171,000 tonnes and nitrogen oxides by about 149,000 tonnes.

State Power Investment Corp (SPIC) says the Lianjiang plant will be the first nuclear power project in China to adopt seawater secondary circulation cooling technology as well as the first to use a super-large cooling tower.

State firm says it is planning ‘successful delivery’ of large-scale EPR plants and Nuward SMR units.

France’s state energy company and nuclear operator EDF has signed several cooperation agreements involving Canadian, Czech, French and Indian, partners as it seeks to secure the local supply chains it needs for large-scale and small modular nuclear reactor projects in Europe and worldwide.

The company said the agreements are aimed at the successful delivery of future EPR-technology-based and Nuward SMR projects. The EPR is France’s large-scale reactor technology and the Nuward is an SMR technology under development by EDF subsidiary Nuward.

The Nuward SMR is in the basic design phase, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2026 or in early 2027.

The agreements, signed by EDF on the inaugural day of the World Nuclear Exhibition 2023 in Paris on 28 November, include a memorandum of cooperation between EDF and India’s state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) on local content for the Jaitapur nuclear power station project.

In April 2021, EDF said it had made a binding offer to build six 1,600-MW EPR units at the Jaitapur site in the Maharashtra region of western India. The company said at the time that it was “actively engaged” in ensuring local industrial participation in the project.

In July, France and India said they had made progress on the longstanding project. In a joint statement Paris and New Delhi said they welcomed progress made during discussions related to the Jaitapur project and welcomed EDF’s proposal for training of civil nuclear engineers and technicians from India for projects involving EPR technology.

EDF and BHEL said they also plan to explore wider collaboration on EPR deployment and the Nuward SMR.

Agreements With Czech Republic, Canada

EDF also signed cooperation agreements with potential Czech suppliers relating to the bidding process for the new nuclear unit planned for Dukovany in the Czech Republic. The agreements were signed with the Czech Power Industry Alliance, ADAMEC, EnerSys, ISH Pumps, KLIKA BP, LDM and Nopo Engineering.

EDF and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) signed a letter of interest for a comprehensive joint evaluation of the potential deployment of EPR technology in Ontario and other parts of Canada.

EDF and France-based Egis signed a cooperation agreement to support EDF's localisation efforts for its international projects.

Also on 28 November, EDF and Ontario Power Group (OPG) signed a letter of interest to evaluate the potential development of EPR technology in Ontario and other parts of Canada.

EDF said its ambition is to pursue and accelerate nuclear energy development in France, in Europe and abroad through “long-term cross-country partnerships”.

EDF chairman and chief executive officer Luc Rémont, said: “The signing of these industrial cooperation agreements clearly demonstrates our ambition to secure robust partnerships with local supply chains for EPR-technology-based projects, as well as for Nuward SMR.

Making scientific data more accessible to decision makers, experts and the public is at the core of IAEA’s efforts for stronger transparency and enhanced international knowledge sharing. With this aim, the IAEA recently launched the IAEA Data Platform which centralizes access to various publicly shared datasets on a single platform. Through this platform, data can be maintained and standardized more efficiently and data users such as Member States, researchers and scientists can visualize and download data in a variety of formats.

The platform facilitates access to a range of different types of data such as the Incident and Trafficking Database, which serves as the IAEA’s information system on incidents of illicit trafficking and other unauthorized activities involving nuclear and other radioactive material outside of regulatory control, and the Modaria Dataset, an international compilation of radionuclide and stable isotope soil-plant concentration ratio values for tropical environments.

The IAEA Data Platform categorizes datasets according to three main topics: Nuclear Safety and Security; Nuclear Technology and Applications; and Safeguards and Verification. Additionally, it contains useful tools such as filtering options and tags for different datasets as well as an activity panel which tracks how the data has changed over time. These tools facilitate a better overview of the data and make the datasets more accessible to a broader audience.

One of the unique functions of the new platform is the application programming interface (API) option, which allows access to the data through systems. “While the platform provides an overall improved and more user-friendly experience to access IAEA data, the ability to access the datasets remotely is particularly valuable as it ensures that users always have access to the latest data,” said Clinton Tak, Associate IT Innovation Engineer at the IAEA. Tak added that “the API option enables researchers and scientists to analyse the data and create visualizations through commonly used tools such as PowerBI, Tableau, Python, and MatLab.”

The launch of the IAEA Data Platform is an important step towards migrating all data publicly shared by the IAEA onto one common repository, thereby facilitating knowledge of and access to all available IAEA databases, promoting transparency and enhancing data management practices.

Link to platform: https://data.iaea.org/