The Project
TANDEM aims to develop methodologies and tools to facilitate the safe and efficient integration of SMRs into smart low-carbon hybrid energy systems. TANDEM will address safety issues and assess the feasibility of SMR integration into hybrid energy systems.
The project will focus on light-water SMR technologies which can potentially be deployed in Europe by the 2030s. At the same time, within the Generation-IV Framework, the project also aims to give perspectives for the integration of Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) into hybrid energy systems by 2050.
TANDEM is an ambitious project and fundamental for the future of Europe's energy transition. It will focus on four main factors that address the practicalities of successfully integrating SMR technology into hybrid energy systems:
- Safety of SMR integration into hybrid energy systems by extending the current safety approach implemented for operating nuclear power plants.
- Operationality (in particular flexibility) of energy production within hybrid energy systems. Taking into consideration grid stability and resilience, intermittent reliability of renewable energies, and power demand variability.
- Economic viability of SMRs in such hybrid energy systems, considering the broader energy market, such as electricity, hydrogen, and heat markets.
- European citizen engagement towards SMR technologies for power and non-power applications, and related safety aspects.
Objective One
Assess the safety compliance of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to be integrated within the future European decarbonised energy mix.
Objective Two
Provide guidance for the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) and their integration into well-balanced hybrid energy systems.
Objective Three
Create an enabling environment to pioneer the development of hybrid energy systems based on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) for a decarbonised European energy mix.
The Challenge
The European Union aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. In order to reach this objective, ambitious targets were set for 2030: a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% below 1990 levels (EEA, 2020). Nuclear energy, together with renewables, plays a major role in the European clean energy transition. These energy sources are considered the "backbone" of the future decarbonised European energy mix (World Nuclear Association, 2020 & European Commission, 2018).
Nuclear power plants have been historically designed and well optimised for the generation of electricity that is the most universal vector for energy worldwide. In future they may also provide other products and services in the next decades – indeed, the idea of using nuclear energy for non-power applications is not new (IAEA, 2020).
Various international SMR concepts focus on multipurpose reactors designed for power and non-power applications. These SMRs may be well suited to operate flexibly in tandem with storage systems and other energy sources, in particular, variable renewables. Thus, SMRs which are integrated into hybrid energy systems have the capacity to offer reliable, resilient, and affordable clean energy options, providing electricity, heat, and hydrogen to support a wide array of energy demands.
The Goal
The overall aim of the TANDEM project is to highlight the potential role of SMRs in the development of the future European decarbonised energy mix and build an open and long-term community that will ensure expertise in the domain, supporting the wide acceptance of SMRs at different levels. To achieve this, TANDEM includes actions to analyse the feasibility of SMR integration into hybrid systems taking into account safety, operationality, economics, citizen engagement. The project will also provide recommendations for their future development and deployment.
The Impact
TANDEM proposes to:
- Support the development and licensing of versatile European SMR concepts within hybrid energy systems by the 2030's. This will be done by developing methods and tools to assess SMRs in relation to nuclear safety, operationality, and technical economics of hybrid systems;
- Facilitate the future deployment of SMRs and hybrid energy systems by providing technical and scientific data on the safety and feasibility of the selected hybrid systems;
- Contribute to the preparation of a roadmap for future projects related to integrating versatile SMRs within hybrid energy systems;
- Reinforce international collaboration on the development of hybrid energy systems which integrate SMRs as well as strengthen the link between nuclear and non-nuclear R&D teams;
- Raise awareness amongst stakeholders and the broader public on SMR technologies for power and non-power applications and their integration within hybrid systems.