The Finnish company Steady Energy is developing its own small nuclear power plant, which it is marketing as a source of district heating for cities. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) has reviewed the plant description and evaluated its safety using the model proposed in the new nuclear energy law. The conclusion is that the plant can be designed to meet safety requirements.
The Finnish company Steady Energy is developing its own small nuclear power plant, which it is marketing as a source of district heating for cities. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) has reviewed the plant description and evaluated its safety using the model proposed in the new nuclear energy law. The conclusion is that the plant can be designed to meet safety requirements.
Last autumn, Steady Energy requested a so-called concept-level assessment from STUK for its nuclear power plant design. The concept assessment is a procedure proposed in the new nuclear energy law, in which STUK evaluates prior to construction license phase whether the plant has the potential to meet safety standards.
The design of Steady Energy’s LDR-50 plant is still in such an early stage that STUK couldn’t perform a full concept assessment as defined by the proposed law. However, STUK used the draft concept assessment model as the basis for its evaluation.
According to project manager Minna Tuomainen, the solutions related to nuclear and radiation safety, security arrangements, emergency preparedness, and safeguards for the LDR-50 are such that they can be designed to meet safety requirements. The same applies to Steady Energy’s organization. Although it is not yet a fully qualified nuclear plant supplier, it has the potential to grow into one.
Minna Tuomainen emphasizes that assessing the LDR-50 was a beneficial exercise for STUK in many ways.
“First of all, we had the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with a plant at an early stage, for which a license application may later be submitted in Finland,” Tuomainen says. She also found it valuable that STUK was able to test the concept assessment approach in practice and can use the experience when developing legislation.
Next, an international review of the LDR-50 plant will begin, utilizing STUK's assessment. Alongside the reactor evaluation, the effort will seek ways for authorities from different countries to benefit from each other’s work.
