Safety of operating nuclear power plants and research reactors

Expected Outcome: The project’s results are expected to contribute to some of the following expected outcomes. Continuing safety assessment and long-term operation compliance that address technical challenges, regulatory expectations and economic competitiveness goals. Licence-holders and regulators will ensure the successful implementation of the requirements of the Nuclear Safety Directive [1] , Basic Safety Standards Directive [2] , Radioactive Waste Management Directive [3] and topical peer reviews [4] for current and planned nuclear power plants and research reactors. Safety assessment of ageing management programmes and optimisation of safety solutions; as well as the development and validation of advanced tools for ageing management and evaluation of reactors’ safety margins. The aim is to prevent and mitigate risks (including those associated with severe accidents) by using innovative cross-cutting technologies (applicable to multiple reactor technologies), digital upgrades, digital twins, AI/ML-assisted defect detection, advanced multi-physics (including fluid structure interaction) and/or multiscale modelling and simulation, as well as PSA updates for extended operations. Safety assessment of internal and external hazards in order to evaluate nuclear installations’ safety (applicable to multiple reactor technologies and nuclear fuel cycle facilities), prevent and mitigate accidental situations, and improve and validate advanced modelling tools (including AI-based approaches). Further development and validation of advanced materials testing as well as of component and structural integrity assessment methods to quantify material degradation (including concrete structures, metal fatigue, corrosion, irradiation embrittlement, defect tolerance, advanced NDE techniques and safety margins in aged and potentially degraded plants). Reactor Long-Term Operation (LTO) fuel and core safety management, to evaluate ‑‑high burnup fuel and cladding integrity; and assessment of alternative fuels, core physics and neutron flux redistribution effects, and impacts of LTO on spent fuel inventory and interim storage. Ensuring the highest nuclear safety standards for the deployment of alternative nuclear fuel in Soviet-designed research reactors in EU Member States and Ukraine. This could encourage consistent approaches to the licensing and deployment of this alternative fuel. Drawing up best practice guidance for developed assessment methods, identifying knowledge gaps in safety margins, disseminating project outputs and providing appropriate training in the use of d…

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