DISTRICT ENERGY | ADVANCED REACTORS
Left: The Electric Power Research Institute, is spearheading the Nuclear in District Applications (NuIDEA) initiative
renewables have notably achieved significant penetration into some markets in Europe, carbon-free sources still represent less than 8% of district heat supply globally. IEA estimates that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050
will require connecting 350 million buildings to district energy networks by 2030, accounting for 20% of the world’s heating. With this extensive growth, we’ve identified the need for new, efficient generation sources for district energy. Recent developments in a new generation of advanced nuclear reactor designs could help meet this energy need. Compared to the gigawatt-scale reactors of the 20th
century, advanced nuclear reactors being designed and developed today come in a wider range of shapes and sizes, including small and versatile microreactors. Microreactors can deliver up to 60 MWth of power and can be used for cogeneration of heat, cooling, and electricity. Microreactors could be used to upgrade retiring fossil-fuel based generation in existing district energy systems, or they could be integrated directly into newly built systems. Nuclear microreactors are carbon-free and can operate on very small land footprints. By integrating nuclear technology into district energy systems, we can address the challenges of carbon-intensive energy sources while improving reliability and resilience. Although large-scale nuclear reactors have been used in district heating systems before, microreactors have much greater potential for decarbonizing district energy systems in the next ten years due to their cogeneration versatility and small size. In particular, High-Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs) and liquid metal-cooled reactors are currently the most considered microreactor designs. HTGRs use trisostructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel pellets that safely hold all radioactive material within, and an inert helium coolant with outlet temperatures that can exceed 700°C, achieving the high temperatures necessary for efficient cogeneration. Liquid metal-cooled reactors are designed to use liquid lead or sodium, which enables highly efficient transfer of
heat. Safety is always paramount in the nuclear industry, especially in urban areas, and nuclear microreactors incorporate passive cooling and inherent safety mechanisms to ensure safe operation without external power in the event of emergencies.
Nuclear’s NuIDEA for District Energy EPRI is spearheading the Nuclear in District Applications (NuIDEA) initiative to pave the way for nuclear microreactors to decarbonize district energy systems as the technology becomes available. NuIDEA provides technical guidance, fosters collaboration, and proactively solves challenges to help our members implement nuclear for district energy uses. NuIDEA’s mission is to enable nuclear energy as an
option for the district energy market by 2026. This initiative is meant to iron out the largest remaining hurdles, such as those pertaining to technology, policy, and financing so that the district energy market can begin to consider using carbon-free nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and renewables within the next few years. NuIDEA is a collaborative effort led by EPRI, with over 25 members that are interested in developing nuclear energy as a viable option for district systems. Earlier this year, the NuIDEA Action Plan was released, which laid out the direction and goals for the initiative’s research over the next few years. Based on the Action Plan, NuIDEA members will work to develop solutions for policy, public awareness, ownership models, financing, insurance, project development and execution, technology, regulation, permits, operations and maintenance, and security. NuIDEA primarily benefits district energy owner-
operators and supporting organizations who are interested in exploring nuclear energy as an option for district applications. This work will provide the industry with practical approaches to utilizing nuclear energy in district energy applications. The key focus point for NuIDEA’s research is to help owner-operators succeed at implementing nuclear energy in district systems. ■
www.neimagazine.com | June 2023 | 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
