European research reactor strategy derived in the scope of the Towards Optimized Use of Research Reactors (TOURR) project

Pungerčič, Anže (avtor), Snoj, Luka (avtor)

Nuclear research reactors (RR) are essential facilities in countries implementing nuclear power plants and are used for experiments necessary for commercial reactor development, training and education programs, and many other applications not related to nuclear energy production (e.g., isotope production, neutron sources, materials science). Europe has a broad and very diverse landscape of RRs, many of which have been in operation for 30-60 years, are well maintained and regularly modernized. However, financial pressures caused by a combination of declining interest and the lack of a sound financial model have led to the closure of many of them (e.g. OSIRIS in Saclay, JEEP II research reactor at IFE Kjeller and BER2 in Berlin). These negative trends called for coordinated European action to assess the impact of the declining number of RRs. The Towards Optimized Use of Research Reactors (TOURR) project was a response to this challenge. Its main objective was to assess the status of the EU RR fleet and to develop a strategy for the refurbishment and construction of new RR in Europe. The assessment was based on analysed data obtained through extensive questionnaires sent to all operating European RR. The analysis revealed gaps in terms of lack of long-term funding, lack of manpower and lack of communication between RRs and their customers. It also showed threats of further European RR closures. Regarding the long-term EU RR strategy, the main recommendations of the TOURR project are to build (at least) two RRs, a medium-flux multipurpose reactor and a flexible zero-power facility. Both reactor cores could be part of a single facility built at the European level and accessible to all EU Member States.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: research reactor, utilization, TOURR, strategy, education, training
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FMF - Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: 19 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 211, art. 110963
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-164621
• UDK: 539.1
• ISSN pri članku: 0306-4549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.110963
• COBISS.SI-ID: 213742083
• Datum objave v RUL: 06.11.2024

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Annals of nuclear energy
• Skrajšan naslov: Ann. nucl. energy
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0306-4549
• COBISS.SI-ID: 24965632

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: jedrska fizika, poskusni reaktor, raziskovalni reaktor

Projekti

• Financer: EC - European Commission
• Program financ.: H2020
• Številka projekta: 945269
• Naslov: Towards Optimized Use of Research Reactors in Europe
• Akronim: TOURR