GENERAL CONFERENCE | SPECIAL REPORT
A single 1000MWe nuclear power reactor could produce more than 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen each year to fuel more than 400,000 fuel cell vehicles or more than 16,000 long haul fuel cell trucks
The model evaluates short- and long-term impacts on
overall carbon emissions, structure of the generation mix and cost of electricity provision, which helps to inform the economic impacts of achieving various CO2
emission targets.
Frames can support technical analyses involving the optimal grid integration of advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors, microreactors, fast reactors etc, as well as non-electric application of nuclear energy. “The model calculates unit commitment, which is the optimal dispatch of existing generating units subject to all relevant constraints. Simultaneously, Frames can determine the best investments in new generating technologies, known as capacity expansion,” said Francesco Ganda, nuclear engineering expert at the IAEA. An online event on how digital technologies have been applied in decommissioning projects highlighted the practical value of 3D modelling and simulations, visualisation, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other similar applications. “Innovative digital technologies can provide crucial insights for the planning and implementation of decommissioning projects. They can provide support in decommissioning situations that are difficult or dangerous for human workers and can help ensure that projects are executed safely and effectively,” said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. ‘Digital twins’ of nuclear facilities are increasingly
used to support effective design, operation and maintenance. Digital twins can be ‘as-built records’, detailing how exactly a nuclear facility was constructed and maintained during its operation, to support decommissioning. “Benefits of using digital information models include significant increase of work quality and productivity thanks to improved planning, simulation of deployment of different types of equipment and the possibility of promptly changing project parameters,” said Daria Daubaraite, decommissioning project manager at Rosatom/TVEL in Russia. Advanced data science has been successfully used to support decommissioning and environmental remediation. Leo Lagos, director of research at Florida International University, discussed how this is currently being done at US Department of Energy sites. “Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are being used for everything from structural health monitoring of decommissioning infrastructure to ongoing surveillance and maintenance across the Department of Energy complex to support the assessment of structural integrity in ageing nuclear facilities,” he said. Innovations in the Production and Use of Nuclear Hydrogen for a Clean Energy Transition explored
IAEA needs more funding to complete lab modernisation Continued strong political and financial support from IAEA members states is essential to complete modernisation of the Agency’s Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf, IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi told an audience of government ministers, ambassadors and country delegates at the a side event during the 65th General Conference. Grossi presented plaques to representatives of eight countries — Belgium, Germany, Ghana, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Morocco, Pakistan and Poland — planning to announce new contributions to the modernisation project. Grossi also cited two countries – the USA and Switzerland — for their second contributions to the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories initiative. Over the past 60 years, the IAEA’s eight nuclear applications laboratories in Seibersdorf have trained thousands of scientists in nuclear techniques that can be applied in addressing environmental, food security and human health challenges. The IAEA is modernising the laboratories and needs further financial support. Grossi called for financial contributions from countries to develop and enhance the
IAEA’s capacities at Seibersdorf to enable the IAEA to better support countries in addressing challenges such as cancer and climate change. He said that more than €7 million was still needed for the project to stay on track for the timely launch of the construction of a new laboratory building in early 2022. Grossi praised the work of the co-chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL Group, Germany and South Africa, in encouraging support for the initiative. Speaking on behalf of Germany as co-chair, State Secretary of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Andreas Feicht, announced an additional contribution to ReNuAL2. “In this time, most of the challenges we face are global, so we need a global approach; we need technology, and we need innovation,” he said. ReNuAL was launched in 2014. To date, ReNuAL has delivered three major new
laboratory facilities, new site infrastructure, and significant equipment upgrades that have partially or fully addressed the modernisation of five of the eight laboratories. In September 2020, Grossi launched ReNuAL2 as the final phase of the ReNuAL initiative to complete modernisation of the remaining laboratories that had not yet been upgraded.
Including the latest contributors, the ReNuAL initiative has received extrabudgetary contributions from 45 member states, and some institutions and individuals. It has also entered non-traditional private partnerships to provide key laboratory equipment. ■
developments in coupling of nuclear power with hydrogen production plants to co-generate electricity and hydrogen. “A single 1000MWe nuclear power reactor could produce
more than 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen each year to fuel more than 400,000 fuel cell vehicles or more than 16,000 long haul fuel cell trucks,” said Chudakov. “This is why nuclear hydrogen can be a game changer in the fight against climate change. Decarbonising heavy industry, energy storage and even synthetic fuel production are some of the many roles it can assist us with in the clean energy transition.” Richard Boardman, director for the Energy and
Environment Science and Technology Programs Office at the US Idaho National Laboratory said: “We are looking at putting small- to medium-sized reactors right within industry, where they can be dedicated to making hydrogen, which also takes away the cost of having to store and transport it.” Nikolay Kodochigov, adviser to the director general
of Russia’s JSC Afrikantov OKBM provided details on construction of a pilot plant to test electrolysers and U
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