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Accelerated Program for Implementation of secure VVER fuel Supply

Project description

Accelerating the development of European nuclear fuel for Russian-designed reactors

Nuclear reactor power plants produce energy though controlled nuclear reactions. Currently, there are 20 Russian-designed pressurised water reactors (VVER) in the EU and 15 in Ukraine. These VVER reactors used to depend mainly on Russian-produced nuclear fuel. The EU-funded APIS project is contributing to the accelerated work to qualify an alternative fuel with the aim of securing power generation. The focus is first on energy security for Europe followed by improved economics of operation and next-generation fuel design. Project work will extend the lifetime of VVER plants, at the same time increasing their safety.

Objective

The project Accelerated Program for Implementation of secure VVER fuel Supply will create security of supply of nuclear fuel for Russian designed pressurized water reactors (VVER) operating in the EU and Ukraine by diversification of fuel sources in full compliance with nuclear safety. The project will reinforce the European capabilities for nuclear fuel supply for reactors of VVER-440 design and expedite the process of strengthening such capabilities. The constitution of the consortium creates a strong cooperation between countries with experience of adaptation of fuel type and countries starting their journey towards nuclear fuel diversification.

Due to the situation in Ukraine and the fast transition from Russian to Western fuel design, work must be accelerated to be able to handle the situation that has arisen. The western design of fuel is hence introduced stepwise: emergent VVER-440 fuel designs for European energy security for delivery to Ukrainian power plant in year 2023, followed by a fuel design with improved economics for operation in all European plants without restrictions, and lastly next generation of fuel design. For an efficient licensing, a harmonized approach for VVER fuel licensing is required, for which cooperation between regulators, nuclear power plants and fuel supplier is necessary. This project will facilitate this cooperation. Re-establishment of manufacturing capability and licensing analyses capabilities with reliable methods and codes will also be addressed.

The lifetime of the VVER plants within the European Union and Ukraine is very import to secure future energy supplies. The project will investigate how to operate the nuclear power plant for increased safety and prolongation of the life time of the VVER plants. This includes fuel inspection capabilities.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

EURATOM-IA - EURATOM Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-EURATOM-2022-NRT-01

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Coordinator

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC SWEDEN AB
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 8 382 550,62
Address
UTVECKLINGSGRAND 33
72163 Vasteras
Sweden

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Region
Östra Sverige Östra Mellansverige Västmanlands län
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 16 766 351,25

Participants (11)

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