Project description
Increasing VVER nuclear fuel supply security
The interconnected grid network makes the security of VVER nuclear fuel supply crucial for countries with VVER-type reactors and for Europe as a whole. The EU-funded SAVE project aims to enhance VVER nuclear fuel supply security in Europe and Ukraine by developing a reliable and safer sovereign VVER-440 fuel design, establishing an expedited licensing process, and improving European VVER-440 fuel design qualification capabilities. Additionally, the project will prepare for in-reactor qualification through mutualised Lead Fuel Assemblies programmes, which will expedite design readiness for fuel reloads and lay the groundwork for entirely European manufacturing. The project also aims to address the requirements for Core Monitoring Systems and initiate further development steps.
Objective
The security of supply of VVER nuclear fuel has become and will remain of vital importance in countries operating VVER-type reactors, and due to the strongly interconnected European grid network, this is also instrumental for Europe as a whole. The aim of SAVE project is to strengthen VVER fuel security of supply in Europe and Ukraine by qualifying a reliable and safer sovereign VVER-440 fuel design, by developing a fast-track licensing path and improving European capabilities for VVER-440 fuel design qualification.
Through a strong European collaboration, a large qualification campaign will be performed within European test facilities to assess the performance of the new, safer and sovereign VVER-440 fuel assembly design. SAVE will prepare in-reactor qualification with mutualised LFAs (Lead Fuel Assemblies) programs, which will significantly accelerate design readiness for fuel reloads. SAVE will also define the plans to enable fully European manufacturing route and address the needs on Core Monitoring Systems, to initiate the next steps of development. To contribute to these objectives and increase the security of supply in Europe, the SAVE project is gathering 17 partners from 8 European countries, within a consortium composed of experienced and highly qualified European actors in nuclear fuel and VVER technologies, including nuclear utilities, TSOs, research entities, leading industrial actors and universities.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- EURATOM2027 - Euratom Research and Training Programme (EURATOM) Main Programme
- EURATOM.1.1 - Improve and support nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel and radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including the safe and secure use of nuclear power and of non-power applications of ionizing radiation
Funding Scheme
EURATOM-IA - EURATOM Innovation ActionsCoordinator
92400 Courbevoie
France
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Participants (16)
75015 PARIS 15
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7030 Paks
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1111 Budapest
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14053 Praha 4
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156 10 PRAHA ZBRASLAV
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
31606 PLZEN
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250 68 Husinec Rez
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02150 Espoo
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91864 Trnava
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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.
91052 Erlangen
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811 09 BRATISLAVA
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1121 Budapest
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22846 Norderstedt
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
02150 Espoo
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1618 Sofia
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