Small modular reactors: publication of a joint assessment, conducted by six European safety authorities, on a reactor design
ASNR releases the lessons learned from Phase 2 of the review conducted jointly with its Dutch (ANVS), Polish (PAA), Swedish (SSM), Finnish (STUK), and Czech (SUJB) counterparts on the safety options for the NUWARD SMR reactor project [1], developed by an EDF subsidiary.
This joint assessment, initiated by ASNR, was carried out as part of the second phase of the Joint Early Review, the initial conclusions of which were published in September 2023.
This second phase built upon the successes of the pilot phase—particularly the work of reviewing a specific project and establishing a direct dialogue with the designer—while evolving to address new challenges, notably broader participation. During this new phase, the scope of the assessment was extended to new technical topics, particularly regarding containment barriers, the evaluation of radiological consequences of an accident, and the architecture of the electrical and instrumentation and control (I&C) systems.
The final report of this multilateral cooperation presents the program carried out, the working methodology implemented, as well as the main lessons learned.
This initiative confirms the value of developing multilateral cooperation for the assessment of reactor projects that have reached a sufficient degree of maturity, in an international context marked by standardization.
Discussions are currently underway to continue the joint review of the NUWARD reactor project, focusing on new topics.
[1] NUWARD SMR is an electricity generation unit concept. This project belongs to the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) category.