Licensing path for a prototype HTGR in Europe

Preliminary results from GEMINI 4.0 European project

Energy policies to reach Europe’s climate-neutral objective make a fruitful ground for the development of advanced nuclear reactors of small or medium power. In this context, Government initiatives have been set up in the UK, Poland, and France to support innovative projects. The GEMINI 4.0 European project builds on the first results of these initiatives to propose a tentative path towards licensing of an HTGR prototype designed to address the industry energy needs of both electricity and heat. Essential observation is the need of a pre-licensing approach because existing administrative procedures and safety standards relate to well established PWR technology and safety approach. As a first step, the compliance of the GEMINI reactor project with international safety assessment standards and design requirements was reviewed. To date, some projects are applying for licensing or have engaged in discussions with the Nuclear Safety authorities in Europe. The GEMINI project integrated the outcomes of these preliminary exchanges to derive the main goals and content of the pre-licensing process. As a result, the need to identify potential incompliances at the early design stage within the frame of the pre-licensing process was illustrated. Difficulties induced by the differences between R&D and licensing timeline were tackled. Attention was paid also to the need for specific requirements and safety options when applying for the construction license of an experimental or prototype HTGR. Finally, a path towards HTGR licensing will be proposed in GEMINI project that is expected to be adaptable at European level.

BAUDRAND Olivier;  MALESA Janusz;  MUSZYŃSKI Dominik;  SKRZYPEK Maciej;  KOHTZ Norbert;  WALTER Ayelet;  REGA Jo;  SHAHROKHI Farshid;  LANSOU Sylvain;  TSIGE-TAMIRAT Haileyesus; 

2025-11-10

IAEA

JRC140086

https://inis.iaea.org/records/nc3sy-cv038,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC140086,