Imagine trying to get a permit for a new type of small house based on rules written for giant skyscrapers. This project takes the safety lessons learned from huge nuclear plants and adapts them for smaller, modern versions. It creates a 'safety playbook' so regulators can approve these smaller plants faster and feel confident they are safe even in worst-case scenarios.
SMR designers face high regulatory hurdles and long approval times because safety data for severe accidents in small reactors is not as well-documented as for large plants.
A set of safety demonstration elements, including hypothetical accident scenarios, validated simulation codes for corium retention, and Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) characterizations.
If you are an SMR manufacturer dealing with long and uncertain regulatory approval times — this project developed safety demonstration elements that speed up the licensing and siting process in Europe.
If you are a site developer dealing with strict zoning laws for reactors near cities — this project developed a characterization of the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) that helps justify placing reactors closer to populated areas.
If you are a software provider dealing with gaps in simulating core melt scenarios for new reactor designs — this project assessed code capabilities to simulate corium retention and containment efficiency, providing a benchmark for tool improvement.
Based on available project data, the EU contribution is EUR 2,991,694, but no commercial pricing for the resulting licensing tools is provided.
Yes, the project focuses on the near-term deployment of iPWRs, which are designed as new builds based on established large-scale reactor technology.
The project aims to support the European licensing process by providing the safety demonstration elements needed for regulatory approval.
A key outcome is to speed up the licensing and siting process of iPWRs across Europe.
The project period runs from 2022-10-01 to 2026-09-30, suggesting results will be finalized by late 2026.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward research and academic expertise, with 13 research organizations and 6 universities. However, it maintains industrial relevance with 3 industry partners and 1 SME, ensuring that the safety analyses are aligned with the needs of the 13 countries involved in the European nuclear energy sector.
Contact AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE in Italy.
Contact us to get the full analysis of iPWR safety benchmarks.
