Romania is preparing to become a pioneer in Europe by using small modular reactors (SMR), offering a model for implementing this advanced technology in the region.This initiative will not only support the energy transition of Romania, but will also contribute to the energy security and to the decarbonization of the European Energy Sector.These are the two new technologies of the small modular reactors (the project from Doiceşti with nuscale) and the generation IV reactors (Alfred project).

The Romanian Atomic Forum Romatom became a member, in 2024, in the General Assembly of the European Industrial Alliance on Modular Reactors.So far, together with Romatom, Romania is represented in the European Industrial Alliance for: Ministry of Energy, Nuclearelectrica, Ropower, Walter Tosto WTB, Adkron Group (EMEA) SRL, RATE, Center of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects Magurele (RATEN CITON), Electrocentrale Bucharest, Print House Advertising,Alro, Atomterra, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Local Heating Company Colterm, Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network.

The benefits of SMRs

The need to renounce charcoal plants throughout the EU creates new opportunities for the development of SMRs.These can be built on the sites of the old power plants and can thus reuse the existing transport infrastructure.Nuscal power plants, for example, offer a capacity similar to that of charcoal plants and can replace these sources of fossil energy, offering a clean and efficient solution.

Collaboration with nuscale

Based on a memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 and a $ 1.2 million grant granted by Ustda, Nuclearelectrica and Nuscale collaborates for the evaluation and development of small modular reactors in Romania.This collaboration is supported by the over 26 -year experience of Romania in the exploitation of nuclear power plants and the expertise of the Romanian engineers.

And the SMR project development company in Romania, which uses nuscale technology, is Ropower Nuclear.The company is in the first line of advancing nuclear energy solutions in Romania.Specialized in the development and implementation of small modular reactors (SMR), Nuclear Ropower is dedicated to increasing energy independence, sustainability and economic growth through clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy.

In this context, Romania inaugurated in May 2023, at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the first simulator for the command room of a modular reactor, intended to prepare the new generation of engineers.Nuscal energy exploration center (Center E2) is a European premiere for labor preparation.

Technical features of SMRs

• A small nuscal modular reactor has an installed capacity of 77 mwe and can be used in 4, 6 or 12 modules.
• Romania will implement 6 modules, with a total capacity of 462 MWE, on the site of the former power plant in Doicești, Dâmbovița county, selected for the implementation of the first SMR in Romania following a deep study funded by USTDA.

International support and funding

• US President Joe Biden has announced a $ 14 million grant for SMR's development in Romania.In addition, the U.S.Export-Import Bank and U.S.The International Development Finance Corporation issued letters of interest in financial support of up to $ 4 billion.
• Collaborations with international entities and companies such as Fluor Enterprises and Samsung C & T Corporation for the implementation of Voygr ™ nuscal power plants in Central and Eastern Europe.

About the Alfred project

The Alfred (Advanced Lead-Cooled European Reactor Reactor, Nuclear Reactor Reader)nuclear, including in the form of concepts of small modular reactors (SMR - Modular Reactors).

Ratten, the institution designated for the development of the Alfred reactor in Romania, has attracted European funds worth 122 million euros through the mechanism of the European Regional Development Fund (EDR) in order to implement two strategic projects to carry out the research, development, testing and qualification of LFR technology (Lead Coold Fast Reactormelted lead).

Along with Ansaldo Nuclear and Enea in Italy, as well as SCK-Cen in Belgium, with the support of Westinghouse Electric, Ranten has submitted to the European Industrial Alliance for small modular reactors (SMR) a project proposal for the Alfred reactor, which will be made on the Nuclear Platform of Regia, from Mioveni, Argeș.

The Alfred project includes a demonstration reactor and a nucleus of supporting installations, completed by Hub and the Center of Excellence Lead School (COE), all located in Romania.The support research installations are dedicated to testing and qualifying the materials, technologies and components that will be used in the realization of the Alfred demonstrator, as well as the validation and verification of the codes and models used in the evaluation of nuclear security.The hub will coordinate the research activities in synergy with a network of experimental installations distributed in Europe.COE will ensure worldwide education and training of researchers, technicians and students, as well as informing the general public.

More about the stage of the project on SMRs, within the Romatom General Assembly (from March 15, 2024)