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Takeda, Takeshi; Shibata, Taiju
JAEA-Review 2024-040, 29 Pages, 2024/09
JAEA-Review-2024-040.pdf:1.33MB
An important theme of Japan's 6th strategic energy plan is to indicate the energy policy path towards carbon neutrality by 2050. Policy responses for Japan's nuclear energy research and development (R&D) towards 2030 contain the demonstrations of technologies for small modular reactors (SMRs) through international cooperation by 2030. In light of this energy plan, basic policy initiatives over the next 10 years have been compiled to realize Green Transformation (GX), which simultaneously achieves decarbonization and economic growth. Looking overseas, activities of SMR R&D are active internationally, mainly in the US, Canada, Europe, China, and Russia. These activities are not only by heavy industry manufactures and R&D institutes, but also by venture companies. Under these circumstances, the NEA CSNI has gathered an Expert Group on SMRs (EGSMR) to help estimate the safety effects of SMRs. The EGSMR efforts required the submission of responses to several questionnaires whose main purpose was to collect the latest information on the efforts of SMR deployment and research. The first author of this report responded to this based on information from Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. as well as JAEA. Most of the responses from Japan to the questionnaires are the information that serves as the basis of CSNI Technical Opinion Paper No. 21 (TOP-21). In this report, the Japan's publicly available responses to the questionnaires arranged and additional information are explained, which complements some of the content of the TOP-21. In this manner, the investigation results of R&D related to SMR in Japan, focusing on the EGSMR activities (2022-2023), are summarized. The target of this report is to provide useful information for future discussions on international cooperation concerning SMR as well as nuclear power field human resources development internationally and domestically.
Nuclear System Technology Review Committee
JAEA-Review 2024-018, 38 Pages, 2024/06
JAEA-Review-2024-018.pdf:1.46MB
In the R&D activities related to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Innovative Nuclear R&D Program, "Development of Integrated Energy System Simulation Method Utilizing Small Modular Reactors for Enhanced System Decarbonization and Resilience," Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) established the "Nuclear System Technology Review Committee," consisting of experts in the subject areas, to obtain advice on the feasibility of deploying Design-standardized, Factory-built, Site-independent Small Modular Reactors (DFS-SMRs) in Japan and other countries. The Committee met three times during the 2021-2024 project period to discuss proposals for a regulatory framework for the potential commercial deployment of DFS-SMRs in Japan. The starting point for the Committee's discussions was the view that Japan's nuclear regulatory framework, like most other countries with existing commercial nuclear power plants in operation, focuses on large Light Water Reactors. Another consideration was the Committee's view on the basic structure of the regulatory framework, consistent with other regulatory initiatives around the world. Specifically, that the most effective regulatory frameworks need to be less prescriptive, less technology-dependent, and more performance-based. This report focuses on the United States, which has played a leading role in the deployment of SMRs and other advanced reactors, and summarizes the discussions regarding the proposal for a licensing framework for SMRs in Japan, an analysis of the gaps between Japan's current licensing framework and the proposed framework, and specific recommendations for closing the gaps. The Committee is hopeful that the changes to the regulatory framework proposed in this report will become a reality.
Nakamura, Hideo; Bentaib, A.*; Herranz, L. E.*; Ruyer, P.*; Mascari, F.*; Jacquemain, D.*; Adorni, M.*
Proceedings of International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety; Strengthening Safety of Evolutionary and Innovative Reactor Designs (TIC 2022) (Internet), 10 Pages, 2022/10