In collaboration with five other European regulators, the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) has assessed the preliminary design for NUWARD, a small modular reactor (SMR) designed by the French company EDF. The Joint Early Review provided useful experience in assessing the nuclear safety of these new reactor designs. This helps us prepare for future licence applications for the construction of SMRs in the Netherlands.
Less big and on different locations
SMRs are smaller than normal nuclear reactors and use different techniques and design principles. They are constructed from separate components manufactured in a factory. Those components can subsequently be put together on the site of the future SMR. The idea is that this makes it easier to install them in different locations, such as industrial estates.
European collaboration to gain knowledge and experience
The development of SMRs is in full swing, but none have been built in Europe yet. Regulators want to gain experience in assessing these new designs, which have to meet the same strict safety standards as conventional nuclear power plants. The ANVS has therefore assessed a select number of aspects of NUWARD’s preliminary design, in collaboration with five other European regulators. The regulators STUK (Finland), ASNR (France), PAA (Poland), SÙJB (Czech Republic) and SSM (Sweden) also participated in the Joint Early Review.
The assessment builds on an earlier pilot phase conducted by ASNR, STUK and SÙJB. In this 2nd phase, a special onboarding process was set up so that the ANVS, PAA and SSM could swiftly familiarise themselves with NUWARD’s design as well. The ANVS has also decided to participate in the upcoming 3rd phase of the NUWARD collaboration.
Assessing safety aspects
The Joint Early Review focused on a set number of safety aspects of NUWARD’s preliminary design, meaning that it was not a comprehensive design assessment. NUWARD is not currently in talks with the ANVS as the initiating party about an SMR installation in the Netherlands.
ANVS licensing officer Thierry Louis: ‘The key was to decide in advance which elements we wanted to look at in the initial phase.’ Aspects covered in the assessment included accident management strategies, safe containment of radioactive material, power electronics such as emergency power and grid connection, measurement and control systems and chain reaction control.
Preparations for future SMR applications
The collaboration for NUWARD’s preliminary design is in keeping with the ANVS’ aim to be prepared for the future. Experts from the ANVS are involved in both the NUWARD collaboration and in assessing Rolls-Royce’s SMR design. The Office of Nuclear Regulation – the British regulatory body – is performing that last assessment. Broad international collaboration enables us to enhance our own expertise and prepare for future licence applications for the construction of SMRs in the Netherlands.
Thierry Louis: ‘During a real licensing procedure, the initiating party has to convince us that they can guarantee nuclear safety. The Joint Early Review gave NUWARD the opportunity to discover what other regulators are looking for. Conversely, we had the chance to familiarise ourselves with a modern SMR and learn through collaboration with fellow regulators.’