Workshop on Non-Electric and Hybrid Applications of Nuclear Energy

Date & Venue: Friday, April 26, 2024, BEXCO Convention Hall and Exhibition Hall, Busan, Korea

Overview

The Generation IV International Forum (GIF) Task Force on Non-Electric Applications of Nuclear Heat (NEANH) and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) co-organised the Non-Electric and Hybrid Applications of Nuclear Energy Workshop on April 26, 2024, in Busan, Korea. The event was hosted by the Korean Nuclear Industry Association (KAIF) and the Korea Nuclear International Cooperation Foundation (KONICOF) on the margins of the 39th Korea Atomic Power (KAP) Annual Conference.

This Non-Electric and Hybrid Applications of Nuclear Energy Workshop included approximately 75 participants from around the world, and featured participation from international organisations collaborating on exploring the opportunity for NEANH, energy end-users in hard-to-abate industrial sectors, regulators, and nuclear technology developers targeting non-electric applications. Participants shared information on specific needs, requirements, and potential challenges or concerns associated with coupling nuclear energy to industrial applications in pursuit of advancing technologies toward a net zero future.

The event featured the following sessions:

• Session 1: Historic context and overview of ongoing international efforts
• Session 2: Industrial end-user perspectives
• Session 3: Operational experience and the challenges associated with operating a co-located system
• Session 4: Panel with nuclear technology developers targeting non-electric applications.
• Session 5: Interactive discussion on the topics discussed, and next steps.

The day’s discussion followed Chatham house rules, and comments are included without attribution to allow anonymity, unless permission was explicitly provided. The event featured simultaneous interpretation between English and Korean, and presentations were delivered in both languages.

Workshop proceedings 

This 2024 Workshop follows the first NEANH Workshop in Toronto, Canada in October 2022 and supports the NEANH Task Force’s efforts to enhance the general level of knowledge on non-grid applications of nuclear systems, highlight system configurations that are relevant for further investigation, and to develop a network to the high temperature community outside the nuclear field to inform systems analysis on non-electric applications of nuclear heat.

Key Insights from the Workshop

• There is a useful history of nuclear energy being used for non-electric applications, but this is limited to lower temperature applications using LWR technologies. Higher temperature industrial applications have different considerations and may benefit more from GenIV reactor technology.
• At higher temperatures, fuel switching industrial processes is challenging and requires significant alterations to existing processes. Integrated systems analysis and financial support are likely required to enable this transition.
• The heat and electricity demand from the decarbonisation of the industrial sector will be significant.
• Reports and tools exist to help end-users assess the opportunity for their operations, but increased engagement is encouraged.
• It is a significant opportunity to use nuclear energy to reduce emissions in industrial sectors, and end users would deploy nuclear energy today if they were commercially available.
• Hydrogen production is of particular interest, and value chain analysis is required to understand the competitiveness of nuclear energy.
• There is regulatory uncertainty for NEANH, and systems will require a case-by-case analysis using a risk-informed and graded approach. There are no obvious barriers that cannot be overcome.
• The opportunity for NEANH is geographically distinct due to unique regulatory landscapes, domestic policies, availability of alternative energy options, and supply chain capabilities.
• Increased collaboration beyond the nuclear sector is essential, including to communicate progress in this area. Communication and transparency are important to build confidence among regulators, investors, and the public.
• Future workshops should also include end users, and other impacted stakeholders such as financiers, investors, and insurers.

PROGRAMME and PRESENTATIONS

Session 1:  Historic context and overview of ongoing international efforts

• History of non-electric and hybrid applications of nuclear and the NEANH Task Force, Shannon BRAGG-SITTON, Director, Integrated Energy and Storage Systems, Idaho National Lab
• IAEA activities related to non-electric applications, Francesco GANDA, Technical Lead for Non‑Electric Applications, IAEA
• NEA activities on hydrogen and industrial case studies for SMR markets, Brent WILHELM, Nuclear Technology and Economics Analyst, NEA
• IEA Hydrogen Technology Collaboration Programme Task 44 – Hydrogen from Nuclear Energy, Pierre Serre-Combe on behalf of Gilles RODRIGUEZ, CEA
• GIF Hydrogen Production PMB with overview of WP4 on integration technologies, Pierre SERRE-COMBE, Deputy Director, Energy Programs for New Hydrogen Technology CEA

Session 2: Industrial end-user perspectives

• Overview of the alliance for nuclear heat utilization in Korea, Chan Soo KIM, Principal Researcher, KAERI
• Chemical sector, Dongil Peter SHIN, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Myongji University.
• District Energy, Il Hwan KANG, Secretary General, Korean Cogeneration Association
• Hydrogen production (Korean only) and hydrogen policies in Korea, Jin Nam PARK, Clean Hydrogen Program Director, Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation & Planning.
• Steel, Jang Hoi CHOI, Director, Carbon Neutrality Strategy Sector, POSCO

Session 3: Operational experience and the challenges associated with operating a co-located system

• Operational experience on hydrogen production and district energy, Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Director, Integrated Energy and Storage Systems, Idaho National Lab
• Operational experience coupling hydrogen production with an advanced reactor system , Tetsuo NISHIHARA, Director General, HTGR Research and Development Center, Sector of Fast Reactor and Advanced Reactor Research and Development Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
• Nuclear energy Technical Support Organisation, Sun Jae Kim, Principal Researcher of Senior Advisory Committee, Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety
• Industrial sector regulator, YoungJo RYU, Director, Safety Technical Standards Division, Korea Gas Safety Cooperation

Session 4: Nuclear technology developers targeting non-electric applications.

• Existing Light Water Reactor, Sang Jin HAN, Director, KHNP
• Molten Salt Reactor, Mikal BØE, Chief Executive Officer, Core Power
• High Temperature Gas Reactor, Chan Soo KIM, Principal Researcher, KAERI, and member of VHTR SSC and NEANH-TF
• Light Water Reactor SMR, Han Ok KANG, Vice President for SMART development, KAERI