SMR projects

Nearly eighty small modular reactor (SMR) projects are currently being developed around the world, including around ten in France.

Overview of current projects

As of 15 March 2024, the SMR projects monitored by the ASN and the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) are as follows:

Light water reactors

 

logo nuward

NUWARD

Industrial prototype
540 MWth

 

Projet NUWARDLightbox

 

 

 

logo calogena

CALOGENA

Industrial prototype
30 MWth

 

 

Projet CALOGENALightbox

 

 

 Sodium-cooled reactors

 

logo otrera

OTRERA

Industrial prototype
300 MWth

 

Projet OTRERALightbox

 

 

 

logo hexana

HEXANA

Industrial prototype
400 MWth

 

Projet HEXANALightbox

 

 

High-temperature reactors

 

logo jimmy

JIMMY

Industrial prototype
10 à 20 MWth

 

Projet JIMMYLightbox

 

 

 

logo blue capsule

BLUE CAPSULE

Industrial prototype
150 MWth

 

Projet BLUE CAPSULELightbox

 

 

Lead-cooled reactor

 

logo newcleo

NEWCLEO

Experimental reactor
80 MWth
(eventually 450 MWth)

 

Projet NEWCLEOLightbox

 

 

Molten salt reactors

 

logo naarea

NAAREA

Experimental reactor
80 MWth

 

Projet NAAREALightbox

 

 

 

logo stellaria

STELLARIA

Experimental reactor
250 MWth

 

Projet STELLARIALightbox

 

 

 

logo thorizon

THORIZON

Experimental reactor
250 MWth

 

Projet THORIZONLightbox

 

 

Status of technical exchanges on reactor projects

The table below sets out the framework for technical exchanges between ASN and IRSN and SMR project sponsors as of 1st July 2024:

 
PREPARATORY PHASE

 
Stage 1: Screening phase
 
Stage 2: Project preparatory review
  • BLUE CAPSULE
  • HEXANA
  • OTRERA
  • STELLARIA
  • NEWCLEO
    Cycle of meetings completed
  • NAAREA
    Cycle of meetings underway
  • CALOGENA
    Launch of the preparatory review  
  • THORIZON
    Launch of the preparatory review    

 
REGULATORY PHASE

 
Stage 3: Pre-licensing
 
Stage 4: Assessment of the application
  • NUWARD
    On 19 July 2023, EDF asked ASN for its opinion on the safety options of the NUWARD SMR project.
  • JIMMY
    On 3 May 2024, Jimmy transmitted its application file for the creation autorisation of a reactor to supply industrial heat to a Cristal Union Group industrial facility located on the Bazancourt site (51). The ASN has been analysing the admissibility of the application since 6 May 2024.  

Nota: the Nuward SMR project, developed by an EDF subsidiary, is part of the continuity of the pressurised water reactor system currently used in French nuclear power plants. As such, it is monitored by the Nuclear Power Plants Division (DCN). The other SMR projects are monitored by the Innovative Reactors Mission (MRI).

En savoir plus :

Dialogue and assessment procedures

In order to optimise preparations for any creation authorisation applications for these various innovative reactor projects, and in order to mobilise resources proportionate to the level of development maturity of each project, a four-phase framework of incremental technical exchanges was set up.

 

In 2023, two SMR project developers also initiated technical discussions with ASN and IRSN in 2023 on projects to develop fabrication plants for their fuel:

  • JIMMY, concerning a project for a TRISO fuel fabrication plant;
  • NEWCLEO, concerning a project for a MOX fuel fabrication plant for a lead cooled fast neutron reactors (RNR).

SMR news

Find out more about small modular reactors (SMR)

Published on 21/05/2024 at 10:57

ASN Report on the State of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection in France in 2023

On May 16, ASN presented its Report on the State of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection in France in 2023 to the parliamentarians of the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technical Choices (OPECST). On this occasion, ASN presented the subjects on which it was being particularly vigilant with regard to the new nuclear ambitions.

Published on 12/03/2024 at 09:40

Bilateral meeting with the Indian safety regulator in Mumbai

An ASN delegation, led by its Chairman Bernard Doroszczuk, travelled to Mumbai on 5 March 2024 to meet its Indian counterpart, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and its Chairman Shri Dinesh Kumar Shukla. This meeting was organised as part of the cooperation agreement that has linked the two safety regulators for nearly 25 years now.
See all news about SMR