The mandate of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) is to support and advance the scientific and technical knowledge base for the safety of nuclear installations. In particular, the CSNI has developed a broad knowledge base in support of the water-cooled power-reactor technologies that are currently widely deployed. With the growing importance of small modular reactors (SMRs), following the proposal of the CSNI Bureau, the CSNI has decided at its 69th meeting held in June 2021 to form an Expert Group on Small Modular Reactors (EGSMR).
The EGSMR addresses safety challenges and develops a scientific basis which supports safety demonstration of the advanced and innovative methodologies and technologies used for SMRs. The group addresses a wide range of technologies, from water-cooled reactors to innovative reactors under development, and sets priorities for nuclear safety research to be undertaken based on established criteria of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI). Through its work programme, this group supports the safety assessment and licensing activities performed at national level and contributes to the progress -of the deployment of SMRs.
The EGSMR focuses on SMR designs with high technology readiness that are anticipated to be deployed in near future, recognising that some flexibility is needed when deciding which technologies should be considered as having high technology readiness. The EGSMR identifies SMR safety related gaps of knowledge and cross cutting safety issues and provides recommendations for co-operative activities and research.
Cross cutting safety issues include the reliability of passive systems, transportability, application of defense in depth principle for innovative designs, remote/autonomous operation, multi-unit/module probabilistic safety assessment, human and organizational factors, emergency planning zones, fuel safety…
The EGSMR assesses and where appropriate provides recommendations for improvement of technical basis needed for safe design, licensing and deployment of SMRs. It facilitates international convergence on safety and cross-cutting issues.
In order to fulfill these objectives, the EGSMR:
· supports the initiation and assists in the coordination and implementation of CSNI activities of relevance to SMRs with a high technology readiness, both of Water-Cooled (WC) technology and Advanced Technology (AT) defined as non-WC Generation IV designs;
· in collaboration with other relevant CSNI Working Groups (WGs), provides prioritised ranking of the safety knowledge gaps and recommendations to solve the gaps, with a focus on safety issues that cross a number of designs;
· in collaboration with CSNI WGs, provide a forum for exchange of information on international developments in SMR nuclear safety and shape the CSNI relevant activities to anticipate and address the emerging challenges;
· in collaboration with CSNI WGs, provide for coordination and collaboration with relevant CNRA WGs addressing SMR safety;
· identify, in collaboration with CSNI WGs, necessary experimental programmes and some of the key research facilities available for SMR safety related experiments.
The EGSMR produces reports, workshops, webinars or conferences that summarise the results from the EGSMR specific implemented activities. Final reports are issued as CSNI reports.
The group will also continue to provide advice to PRG and CSNI on anticipated challenges and any innovative developments affecting safety of current and future nuclear plants and propose means to address those challenges, including suggested research and potential experimental programmes through consultation with other CSNI working groups. Co-operation with other NEA bodies is actively pursued to optimise both the resources mobilised by member countries for NEA activities and the quality of the work produced.
The EGSMR engages with the international organisations specialised in similar sets of activities to ensure complementarity and increase synergy like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission and other organizations where a memorandum of understanding (MOU) is established with the NEA.
Andrew Morreale (CNL, Canada)
EGSMR Members' area (requires password | reminder)
