It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice: nuclear energy is back in the spotlight to contribute to a stable and low-CO2 energy supply. But what is currently being worked on? In this article, we list five nuclear developments for you.
- Research outcomes: “Taking steps together now” to not postpone decision-making on nuclear waste until 2100 but to do it earlier.
On September 4, the Rathenau Institute published the report ‘Taking Steps Together Now’. This report is the result of research into decision-making about the final disposal of nuclear waste. Currently, all nuclear waste produced in the Netherlands is stored at the temporary location of the Central Organization for Radioactive Waste (COVRA) in Zeeland. Decisions about the final storage location would only be made in 2100, to then implement those decisions until 2130. The report urgently advises bringing these dates forward, without mentioning a concrete alternative timeline.
One of the main reasons for this advice is to prevent unreasonable burdens on future generations: it is unfair if the current population only enjoys the benefits of nuclear technology, while all negative effects are passed on. The report also states how decision-making should be done: with much input from interest groups and “ordinary” citizens. The report has been accepted by Chris Jansen, State Secretary for Public Transport and Environment. It will be interesting to follow how this theme will develop in the near and distant future.
- The House of Representatives and the government want to build a total of four new nuclear power plants.
On March 5, the House of Representatives passed a motion calling on the cabinet to build four new large nuclear power plants. The House has left the choice of location to the cabinet. The government has promised to implement this motion. The coalition agreement of the Rutte IV cabinet had agreed to build only two new plants. That was already more than in the preceding decades, when there were no new plants planned at all. Then-Minister Jetten of Climate and Energy decided to do this at the current nuclear power plant in Borssele (Zeeland).
On September 11, Minister Hermans of Climate and Green Growth indicated that the cabinet is now also looking at Terneuzen in Zeelandic Flanders and the Second Maasvlakte in the Rotterdam port area. This month, Minister Hermans wants to announce the results of the market consultation. It will then become clear which companies and organizations are interested in cooperating in the construction of these plants.
- The future construction of the PALLAS reactor for medical isotopes.
In Petten (North Holland), construction is in full swing on the PALLAS reactor. This reactor will replace the current High Flux Reactor (HFR), which is on the same site. The HFR – operated by MareVisies client NRG – is “the world’s largest producer of medical isotopes. Every day, over 30 thousand patients are treated with isotopes produced in the HFR for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. About” two-thirds of all isotopes in Europe, and thirty percent of isotopes worldwide, come from the HFR.
The HFR is at the end of its lifecycle and will have to close by the beginning of the next decade. Nuclear reactors used elsewhere in the world for the production of medical isotopes are also nearing the end of their technical lifespan.
To continue guaranteeing the production of life-saving isotopes, it was therefore decided to build the PALLAS reactor. The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) has issued the organization an establishment permit based on the Nuclear Energy Act (Kew), allowing the PALLAS reactor to be built. To actually put the reactor into operation, another permit must be granted later.
- Development of a Molten Salt Reactor by Thorizon.
The Dutch-French Thorizon is a company planning to develop a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). MareVisie has helped Thorizon set up project management processes and provide daily project management right after its establishment in 2022. This MSR is a type of nuclear reactor that is inherently safe: the fuel, molten thorium salt, also serves as the coolant. A ‘loss of coolant accident’ is therefore impossible by definition, because in such a case, the fuel itself would leak from the reactor into a separate reservoir, where the nuclear chain reaction stops. Additionally, the molten salt is actively heated above its melting point, so if this heating fails during an incident, the no-longer-molten salt will solidify.
This MSR also produces much less and shorter-lived waste than a conventional power plant and can even use waste from conventional plants as fuel. Due to its high temperature and small size, the MSR can be used to green heavy industry, such as Tata Steel or companies in industrial areas. Six months ago, Thorizon received a 10 million euro subsidy from the French government to continue with the project. We look forward to the developments!
- Referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan.
In the foreign news category: on October 6, a referendum took place in Kazakhstan on whether the country should build a new nuclear power plant. Kazakhstan currently has no operational nuclear power plant, while being the world’s largest producer of uranium, it certainly has good credentials in terms of fuel. Additionally, it aims to generate half of its electricity sustainably (including nuclear) by 2050, and to be completely climate neutral ten years later. The referendum also aligns with the Kazakh government’s intention to become an exporter of green energy, along with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Should the majority of voters approve the plan, it is still unclear who will build the nuclear power plant. The location is also unknown, although there’s a high chance it will be near the village of Ulken on Lake Balkhash.
Although Kazakhstan currently has no operational nuclear reactor for energy production, this was different in the past. The BN-350 reactor produced electricity between 1973 (when Kazakhstan was still part of the Soviet Union) and 1999. Additionally, the reactor was used for desalination of Caspian Sea water and the production of plutonium for the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons program. The country also has four research reactors: three in Semipalatinsk, the main testing site of the USSR’s nuclear weapons program, and one near the aforementioned Ulken.
At MareVisie, we strongly believe in sharing the knowledge and expertise we have built up over many years. As a leading project management organization, we not only have experience but also in-depth knowledge in the field of nuclear technology. Our dedicated colleagues have completed relevant training, including at the Reactor Institute of TU Delft, specializing in this complex and important sector. Our involvement in projects for prominent organizations in the nuclear sector has led to extensive proficiency in various areas, ranging from installation modifications to license applications. This deep-rooted involvement has not only provided us with expertise but also with a profound understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within the nuclear industry.
Sources:
Trend 1: https://www.rathenau.nl/nl/klimaat/nu-samen-stappen-maken
Trend 2: https://nos.nl/artikel/2511577-tweede-kamer-wil-vier-grote-kerncentrales-in-plaats-van-twee
https://nos.nl/artikel/2536766-kabinet-terneuzen-en-tweede-maasvlakte-in-beeld-voor-nieuwe-kerncentrales
Trend 3: https://www.pallasreactor.co