Exploring sustainability, societal perception, licensing and non-electric applications of new nuclear technologies: perspectives and achievements of ECOSENS, HARMONISE and SANE projects

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) are seen today as promising solutions for enhancing Europe’s energy supply security and contributing to global climate change mitigation. Their successful deployment, however, is contingent upon robust political support, widespread public acceptance, and the establishment of a harmonised safety regulatory framework. Furthermore, demonstrating their potential for non-electrical applications is crucial for stimulating broader interest and accelerating their development. Within the framework of the EURATOM Research and Development programme, these multifaceted challenges are concurrently addressed through the ECOSENS, HARMONISE, and SANE projects, whose results contribute to advancing knowledge pertaining to the societal, licensing, and safety challenges inherent in emerging nuclear energy technologies, with the aim to expedite their implementation within the European Union. The paper presents the up-to-date public perception on current and emerging nuclear technologies in the context of major societal challenges and details the outcomes of a comprehensive sustainability assessment of nuclear energy across its entire life cycle, employing a methodology co-developed by a diversity of stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, industry, academia, and civil society. Additionally, the paper introduces a novel economic model based on the System of Provision approach, designed to inform and assist decision-makers in formulating effective nuclear policies. These results provide a comprehensive perspective on nuclear energy, considering not only technical and economic aspects but also the broader societal and environmental implications. In addition, the paper provides recommendations for the harmonisation and standardisation of methodologies, codes and standards developed on the basis of the analysis of regulatory requirements for light water reactor technology. Finally, it outlines expectations arising from investigations into the safety aspects of non-electrical applications of nuclear energy, particularly focusing on residential heating, industrial processes, and other off-grid uses such as hydrogen production.