| Project Detail |
Boosting research into molten salt reactors for sustainable nuclear energy
Molten salt reactors (MSRs) are a promising technology for sustainable and safe nuclear energy, but scientific and technological innovations are required for their development and operation. The EU-funded ENDURANCE project aims to advance MSR technology in Europe by enhancing critical technology elements that are essential for industrial deployment. The initiative will bring together seven universities, eight research centres, four start-ups, an industrial sector, and a technical organisation to tackle key aspects of MSR development. These include fuel salt chemistry, material selection, safety phenomena, safety assessment modelling, fuel cycle sustainability, and reactor adaptability in future energy scenarios. Project outcomes should help create a scientific roadmap for future development and deployment of MSR technology in Europe.
The ENDURANCE project (EU kNowleDge hUb foR enAbling MolteN Salt ReaCtor safety development and dEployment) aims at supporting the safe operation and the technological development of MSR in Europe, through the knowledge advancement in different fields of the MSR research, connecting the design developers and industry needs with the university and research centre capabilities and the regulator requirements. This EU knowledge hub will gather seven universities, eight research centres, four European startups working on MSR design, one industry, one technical and support organization to improve the maturity of relevant Critical Technology Elements (CTEs) that are key enablers for the industrial deployment of the MSR technology. The five CTEs in which the ENDURANCE project will contribute are: i) the chemistry of fuel salt and structural materials in reactor environment; ii) the experimental evidence on safety related phenomena; iii) the modelling preparedness for safety assessment and licensing; iv) the sustainability and safeguards compliance of MSR fuel cycle; v) the demonstration of (safe) MSR adaptability in future decarbonized energy scenario. The environment created by the project will allow to promote cross-fertilization of ideas, solutions of technological issues, discussion about the regulatory framework of the MSR. The outcomes of the project on the different CTEs will be analysed to define a technological and scientific roadmap for the future development and deployment of MSR technology in Europe. |
