In 2024, ASN was faced with a significant acceleration in contacts from Small Modular Reactor(1) (SMR) project developers. The steps taken as of 2023 to set up new frameworks for technical exchanges meant that it was possible to deal with this unprecedented situation and prepare for effective examination of the first dossiers. On of ASN’s main findings following these exchanges concerns the frequently unrealistic nature of the deployment schedules announced by many of the project developer. Acceleration in technical exchanges in 2024 with companies developing small modular reactor projects 1. Several SMR projects are currently being developed around the world. These are reactors with a power of less than 300 Megawatts electric (MWe), built mainly in a factory. They use a variety of technologies: that of the pressurised water reactors or advanced technologies (high-temperature, molten salt, fast neutron, etc. reactors). 2. asn.fr/reglementation/bulletin-officiel-de-l-asnr/fonctionnement-de-l-asnr/decisions-nominatives/decision-n-codep-mea-2024019956-du-directeur-general-de-l-asn In 2024, ASN and the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) had to deal with a very large number of contacts from all the companies developing SMR projects and who wished to initiate technical exchanges as rapidly as possible, while others wished to continue those already started in 2023. The fact of having to deal with about ten SMR projects, all promoted by as many different project developers, is an unprecedented situation in the French context and represents a very real challenge to the examination capacity of both ASN and IRSN. Given this challenge, ASN considered that it was essential to be able to initiate technical exchanges with the project developers rapidly, ahead of submission of the forthcoming applications required by the applicable regulatory procedures. Advance exchanges such as these have the advantage of making it possible to understand the innovations and new safety issues of these projects early on, and thus be as well prepared as possible to effectively examine the future dossiers to be submitted. In 2023, ASN had thus carried out a reorganisation of its departments, by creating a new entity specifically for these innovative reactor projects, and had also adapted its methods for technical exchanges with the project sponsors (see details in chapter 11 of the full ASN Report) so that the commitment of its resources and those of IRSN was proportionate to the development level of these various projects. These new technical exchange frameworks, gradually put into place in 2023 with the first France 2030 “Innovative reactors” award winners, were thus able to deal with a first significant increase in contacts from project developers in 2024. As shown in the diagram opposite, although these contacts in 2024 primarily concern preparatory technical exchanges (follow-up on screening phase and preparatory reviews), it should be noted that the developers of two projects this year decided to actually submit an examination request within a regulatory framework: • on 3 May 2024, a creation authorisation application was submitted by the Jimmy Energy company to the Minister responsible for nuclear safety for its SMR project designed to provide high-temperature heat for an industrial site; • on 31 October 2024, a request for an opinion on the main safety options of its SMR project designed to provide steam to an urban district heating network was submitted to ASN by the Calogena company. Creation of a specific Advisory Committee of Experts for innovative SMRs ASN can consult Advisory Committees of Experts (GPEs) for opinions and recommendations when preparing its most important resolutions relative to nuclear safety or radiation protection issues. As part of its preparation for the forthcoming examinations of innovative SMR projects, ASN set up a Crosscutting Advisory Committee of Experts in 2024(2) from The challenges involved in preparing for the upcoming examination of numerous small modular reactor projects 01 I 02 I 03 I 04 NOTABLE EVENTS 2024 16 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024
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