Project description
Assessing safety of small modular reactors integrated into hybrid energy systems
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 megawatt electrical – a generating capacity lower than that of traditional nuclear power reactors. They can contribute significantly to the EU’s energy decarbonisation goals; however, their integration into hybrid energy systems is relatively new in the research and development field. The EU-funded TANDEM project aims to provide assessments and tools to facilitate the safe, secure and efficient integration of SMRs into smart low-carbon hybrid energy systems. Project work will lead to technical, economic and societal recommendations and policy briefs on the safety of SMRs and their integration into hybrid energy systems.
Objective
"Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can be hybridized with other energy sources, storage systems and energy conversion applications to provide electricity, heat and hydrogen. SMR technology thus has the potential to strongly contribute to the energy decarbonisation in order to achieve climate-neutrality in Europe by 2050. However, the integration of nuclear reactors, particularly SMRs, in hybrid energy systems is a new R&D topic to be investigated. In this context, the TANDEM project aims to provide assessments and tools to facilitate the safe, secure and efficient integration of SMRs into smart low-carbon hybrid energy systems. It proposes to specifically address the safety issues of SMRs related to their integration into hybrid energy systems, involving specific interactions between SMRs and the rest of the hybrid systems; new initiating events will have to be considered in the safety approach. An open-source ""TANDEM"" model library of hybrid system components will be developed in Modelica language to build a hybrid system simulator which, by coupling, will extend the capabilities of existing tools implemented in the project.
TANDEM intends to focus on two main study cases corresponding to hybrid system configurations covering the main trends of the European energy policy and market evolution: a district heating network and power supply in an urban area, and an energy hub serving energy conversion systems, including hydrogen production, in a regional perspective. TANDEM will provide assessments on SMR safety, hybrid system operationality and techno-economics. Societal considerations will also be encased by analyzing the European citizen engagement regarding SMR technology safety.
The work will result in technical, economic and societal recommendations and policy briefs on the safety of SMRs and their integration into hybrid energy systems for industry, R&D teams, TSOs, regulators, NGOs and policy makers. The TANDEM consortium will involve 17 partners from 8 countries.
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Fields of science
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil societynongovernmental organizations
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhybrid energy
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsenergy conversion
Keywords
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
EURATOM-RIA - EURATOM Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
75015 PARIS 15
France
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Participants (17)
16152 Genova
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20156 Milano
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
56126 Pisa
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
20133 Milano
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00196 Roma
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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1000 BRUXELLES
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28015 Madrid
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75008 Paris
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03148 Kyiv
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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02150 Espoo
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50667 Koln
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92260 Fontenay Aux Roses
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02150 Espoo
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250 68 Husinec Rez
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1049 Bruxelles / Brussel
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