IAEA Advances Efforts to Standardize SMR Deployment

To address these challenges, the NHSI is advocating for a more streamlined approach based on enhanced regional and international cooperation.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is making significant progress in its efforts to accelerate the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) through enhanced standardization and harmonization. A new working paper by the IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) examines how integrating non-nuclear codes and standards into SMR production, and harmonizing these across different jurisdictions, could substantially reduce both the cost and time needed for SMR deployments.

Challenges and Solutions:

Nuclear power plants must comply with rigorous standards from nuclear regulatory bodies to ensure their safe design and operation. Additionally, they must adhere to various industrial standards that apply to all facilities, including regulations for exit routes, electrical voltages, and environmental considerations like bans on certain building materials. These standards often vary widely across different regions, leading to increased costs and potential delays in deployment as plant designs must be adjusted to meet diverse requirements.

To address these challenges, the NHSI is advocating for a more streamlined approach based on enhanced regional and international cooperation. "For nuclear power to maximally contribute to our net zero goals, it is essential to consider all potential sources of improvements," said Aline des Cloizeaux, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Power. Harmonizing non-nuclear codes within and between countries could facilitate much faster deployments of SMRs and other advanced reactors.

NHSI and Its Dual Focus:

Launched in 2022, the NHSI aims to facilitate the deployment of safe and secure SMRs and other advanced reactors. It comprises two main tracks:

Regulatory Harmonization Track: Focuses on aligning regulatory approaches across different jurisdictions.Industry Standardization Track: Supports the development of standardized industrial methods for SMR manufacturing, construction, operations, and management.Industry Track Topic Group 2 (TG2) has been particularly active, identifying ways to address the challenges posed by non-nuclear codes and standards in implementing nuclear power projects. "The group identified several areas in which the code requirements from non-nuclear regulators lead to potentially significant redesign," said Pekka Pyy, an IAEA Senior Expert. TG2 is collecting relevant codes and standards as examples and identifying areas for harmonization.

Approaches to Standardization:

TG2 has explored various strategies to manage differing requirements across jurisdictions. One approach is the 'enveloping' method, where designers develop project specifications based on the most demanding requirements identified globally. Another approach considers maintaining a standard 'product-as-is' design, making no changes to the SMR design.

"For new nuclear plant design, it is prohibitively expensive to incorporate all possible requirements into the Standard Plant design," noted Michael Arcaro, Principal Engineer for Systems Engineering at GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy and TG2 member. Instead, a subset of representative or bounding requirements can be applied during the initial development phase.

International Cooperation and Best Practices:

Achieving harmonization will necessitate early engagement between project owners, operators, regulators, and suppliers. Proactive cooperation at national, regional, and international levels should be prioritized. The commercial aircraft industry, known for its successful standardization methodologies, provides a valuable model for the nuclear sector.

TG2 is meeting in Vienna from June 10-11 to discuss additional strategies for streamlining SMR project implementation. The group is also mapping fire and building codes across countries poised for SMR deployment.

By fostering greater standardization and harmonization, the IAEA aims to facilitate faster and more cost-effective deployment of SMRs, contributing to global efforts to meet net-zero goals and expand sustainable energy infrastructure.