Research and Development

Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 12:38 |

Background

Research and Development (R&D) in nuclear fission is important on several counts:

to maintain the safety and competitiveness of the fleet of reactors currently in operation, it is important to have a full understanding of ageing mechanisms and be able to monitor and predict as accurately as possible lifetime of key components
to design the next generation of nuclear reactors with a view to exceeding the performance of the existing models in terms of safety, efficiency, economics, sustainability and security (non-proliferation)
to maintain the EU's technological lead – and export capacity – in a technology facing the competition of the USA and several far-eastern countries
to attract a sufficient number of young engineers and scientists who will make up tomorrow's European pool of experts

Research work in the fields of safety of current reactors and technologies includes radioactive waste reduction and long-term geological disposal. Designing the next generation of nuclear reactors is the objective of the so-called “Generation IV International Forum” (GIF). The objective of GIF is to co-ordinate the R&D efforts of its members on the design of 6 carefully selected nuclear reactor systems that could be deployed by 2030. The EU's Strategic Energy Technology Plan also includes research on generation IV reactors.

Latest Developments

In April 2007, the 7th EU Framework Research Programme (FP7) for 2007-2013 was agreed upon. The total FP7 budget was doubled compared to FP6 and amounts to € 67.8bn.

The budget for the FP7's EURATOM nuclear research programme (2007-2011) amounts to €2.8bn. The Euratom programme is set out in two specific programmes: the first covers fusion energy research and nuclear fission and radiation protection, and the second covers the activities of the JRC in the field of nuclear energy. An important part of the budget (over €2bn) contributes to research in support of the ITER international project on fusion energy (over €2bn). The budget for Nuclear Fission is €280 M over the 5-year period 2007-11, representing a small increase in real terms from FP6.

On 28 June 2011, the Council agreed in principle to extend for another two years the framework programme (FP7) for nuclear research. The current European nuclear research funding only runs for five years until the end of 2011, while the rest of the programme lasts until 2013. The extension of the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) FP7 would, therefore, enable both parts of the programme to coincide. The allocation of funds remains at approximately the same annual rate (€59 M per year for nuclear fission excluding JRC).

In November 2007, the European Commission published a Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) defining the main avenues of research necessary to deliver a low-carbon energy mix for Europe by the year 2050. Sustainable nuclear fission is identified as one of six priority initiatives.

In this context, a Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) was launched on 21 September 2007. The SNETP aims to facilitate closer integration between researchers and industry to enable the definition and implementation of a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and corresponding Deployment Strategy (DS), as well as to maintain Europe’s R&D leadership in the nuclear research sector. The draft SRA was presented to the General Assembly in November 2008 and was published in May 2009. The Deployment Strategy was published in May 2010.

A second Technology Platform, the Implementing Geological Disposal Technology Platform (IGDTP) was established in November 2009 to cover research on radioactive waste disposal.

FORATOM Research & Development Task Force

The FORATOM R&D Task Force was created with a remit to act as a link between the European Institutions and the Nuclear Industry in the fission research field. Its deliverables are mainly position papers summarizing the position of the nuclear industry regarding R&D matters related to nuclear fission and answers to questions submitted by the European Commission.