GIF Industry Forum 2022

Date/Hours: 3-7 October 2022
Location: Toronto, Canada

The objectives of the GIF Industry Forum 2022 were to: (1) report the achievements of GIF collaborative research on advanced nuclear energy systems that are aligned with today’s global sustainable development goals and, (2) Explore collaboration opportunities between private and public sectors to accelerate the demonstration of Gen IV systems. 

The event was collocated with the Canadian Nuclear Society organized G4SR-4 (4th International Conference on Generation IV & Small Reactor). The last day was dedicated to technical visits.

Events
Industry
Updated on 02/12/2024

Overview of the Forum

The GIF Industry Forum 2022 provided an extensive overview of the latest advancements and opportunities in Generation IV (Gen IV) nuclear technologies. The forum's sessions covered a wide range of topics, showcasing the breadth and depth of current research and development efforts.

The event included discussions on non-electric applications of nuclear energy, economic challenges and opportunities for Gen IV reactors, and the integration of artificial intelligence in nuclear technology. A plenary session emphasized the importance of innovation in technology development, followed by technical sessions on various reactor types, including Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs), Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs), Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), and Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs).

The forum also addressed licensing readiness and approaches for Gen IV systems, featured insights from leading innovators, and explored international knowledge management and preservation strategies. This comprehensive program highlighted the collaborative efforts and innovative approaches shaping the future of nuclear energy.

Session Summary
Non-Electric Applications of Nuclear - Workshop in cooperation with IFNEC (3 Oct)Focused on non-electric applications of nuclear energy, discussing various technological and economic aspects, and potential benefits.
EMWG Session: Economic challenges and opportunities for Gen-IV reactors (3 Oct)Explored economic challenges and opportunities for Generation IV reactors, including updates from various stakeholders and case studies.
Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear (4 Oct)Discussed applications of AI in nuclear technology, covering topics like autonomous operations, regulatory developments, and AI-driven innovations.
Plenary Session: Generation IV International Forum: Technology Development through Innovation (4 Oct)Focused on the development of Generation IV nuclear technologies through innovative approaches, highlighting achievements and future directions.
Gen-IV Demos: VHTR Technical Session Bridging GIF R&D community and Industry towards commercial deployment of VHTR/HTRs (5 Oct)Addressed the bridging of R&D community and industry for the deployment of Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs), including technical and commercial aspects.
Gen-IV Demos: SFR Technical Session (5 Oct)Covered the developments and future plans for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs), discussing their technical capabilities and deployment strategies.
Gen-IV Demos: MSR Technical Session (5 Oct)Focused on Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs), discussing international collaborations, safety, materials R&D, and commercial potential.
Gen-IV Demos: LFR Technical Session (5 Oct)Discussed Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs), including their status, development plans, and commercial prospects in various countries.
Advanced Reactor Licensing: Licensing Readiness plans for Gen-IV Systems and Licensing Approaches and Experience (6 Oct)Examined the readiness plans and licensing approaches for Generation IV systems, sharing experiences and regulatory developments.
Gen-IV Innovators’ Panel (6 Oct)Featured discussions from leading innovators in the Generation IV nuclear field, providing insights into breakthrough opportunities and future trends.
International Knowledge Management and Preservation – SFR Example (6 Oct)Discussed strategies for knowledge management and preservation using Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors as a case study, highlighting best practices and experiences.

Non Electric Applications of Nuclear Heat Workshop (Day 1)

Panel sessionPresentationPresenter
Introduction PanelIntroductionShannon Bragg-Sitton, Chair of the NEANH Task Force, Idaho National Laboratory, USA
Overview of “Non-Electric Applications of Nuclear”: history, current status and paths forwardRamesh Sadhankar, Natural Resources Canada
Research Panel - Moderator: Gilles Rodriguez (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, France)Modeling and Simulation and Experimental Systems Development under the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Integrated Energy Systems ProgramAaron Epiney, Idaho National Laboratory, USA
Canadian OverviewAli Siddiqui, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Canada
UK Research and Development OverviewRob Arnold, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK
JAEA R&D OverviewHiroyuki Sato, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Japan
GEMINI 4.0 ProjectMichael Fuetterer, European Commission, Netherlands
Industry Panel - Moderator: Diane Cameron (Nuclear Energy Agency, Canada)Scene-setting: techno-economics of non-electric applicationsAntonio Vaya Soler, Nuclear Energy Agency, France
Chemical IndustryGretchen Baier, Dow Chemicals, USA
Oil sands industryBronwyn Hyland, The Pathways Alliance, Canada
Oil and gas refineriesGautam Phanse, Chevron Technology Ventures, USA
District energyJeremy Shook, Electric Power Research Institute, USA
Ammonia productionsJohn Kutsch, Ammonia Energy Association, USA
Advanced Reactor Panel - Moderator: Aiden Peakman (UK National Nuclear Laboratory)Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation presentationCristian Rabiti, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (HTGR)
X-Energy Canada presentationKatherine Moshonas Cole, X-Energy Canada (HTGR)
Terrestrial Energy presentationDavid LeBlanc, Terrestrial Energy (MSR)
U-Battery presentationTim Abram, U-Battery  (HTGR)
NuScale Power presentationDominick Claudio, NuScale Power (LWR)
TerraPower presentationPatrick Alexander, TerraPower (SFR)

EMWG Session - Economic challenges and opportunities for Gen-IV reactors (Day 1)

The Session organised by the GIF Economic Modelling Working Group (EMWG) included the following presentations:

  • Opening remarks - Fiona Reilly (Fire Energy, United Kingdom)
  • EMWG introduction and update - Megan Moore (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Canada)
  • Wyoming Energy Authority - Marcio Paes-Barreto (Wyoming Energy Authority, United States of America)
  • Westinghouse eVinciTM Microreactor - Eddie Saab (Westinghouse Canada)

These presentations were followed by a panel discussion. The summary of the session will provide more information about the key takeaways of this session. 

Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear - Applications of AI in nuclear technology (Day 2)

The objective of this session was to discuss how new digital technologies like the Artificial Intelligence can help development of Gen IV reactors. International experts from industry, national labs and regulators were invited to discuss the following topics: 

  • Understand how best to utilise AI-powered technologies to accelerate and de-risk GIF projects. 
  • What should be the priority for short- and long-term AI strategies? 
  • Can smaller subgroups be created to collaborate on different subject matters such as: AI security, AI Ethics, AI for nuclear reactor solutions, AI for asset management, etc? 
  • Understand current challenges (regulatory acceptance, data sharing) and capabilities.
  • Share AI success stories / use cases from private and public sector. 
  • Identify collaboration opportunities to share data and develop, train and test AI models.

The session was chaired by Prof. Nawal Prinja and included the following presentations that served as a basis for further discussion:

  • “How AI is empowering the future of UK nuclear industry – A Position Paper” – Caroline Chibelushi, KTN, UKRI and AI for nuclear (AI4N) group, Nuclear Institute, UK
  • “Application of AI within data-centric engineering and autonomous systems” – Nigel Tate, Rolls Royce, UK
  • “The Challenge of Autonomous Operation and Automated Reasoning as an AI Enabler” – Robert Ponciroli, ANL, USA
  • “AI-powered Cognitive Search for Information for Nuclear Knowledge Management” – Thomas Devraj, S & P Global (formerly I H S), USA/UK
  • “Development of the regulation of AI for nuclear applications in UK” – David Smeatham, Principal Nuclear Inspector, Office for Nuclear Regulation, UK
  • “IAEA’s role in the deployment of AI for Nuclear Power” – Aline Des Cloizeaux, IAEA

GIF Industry Forum Plenary Session - Generation IV International Forum: Technology Development through Innovation (Day 2)

The Plenary session of the 2022 GIF Industry forum was a central element of the event. It included the following presentations that served as a basis for further discussion:

  • Opening and moderation - Sylvestre Pivet (France)
  • Generation IV Goals for Nuclear Energy Systems - Alice Caponiti (USA)
  • The Role of Generation IV Technologies in Reaching Net zero Targets - Diane Cameron (OECD-NEA)
  • Generation-IV International Forum Achievement - Robert Hill (USA)
  • GIF Engagement with the broader Nuclear Industry - Fiona Rayment (UK)
  • Q&A Panel

Gen-IV Demos - Technical Sessions (Day 3)

Four technical sessions, eached focused on one Generation IV technology were held with the following program for each session:

VHTR Technical Session - Bridging GIF R&D community and Industry towards commercial deployment of VHTR/HTRs
Opening remarks - Hiroyuki Sato (JAEA, Japan)
GIF VHTR Fuel and Fuel Cycle Project Management Board Overview - Gerhard Strydom (INL, United States of America)
Overview of VHTR materials R&D - Bill Corwin (Advanced Reactor Materials, United States of America)
Multinational collaboration in development and deployment of hydrogen production technologies using clean energy - Sam Suppiah (CNL, Canada)
GIF VHTR Computational Methods Validation and Benchmarks Provisional Project Management Board Overview - Gerhard Strydom (INL, United States of America)
Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection: Insights for GFR, SFR, LFR, SCWR, MSR, and VHTR - Ben Cipiti (SNL, United States of America)
Activities in RSWG - Hiroyuki Sato (JAEA, Japan)
Overview of HTGR-related activities and potential collaboration with GIF - Tim Abram (U-Battery, United Kingdom)
Overview of HTGR-related activities and potential collaboration with GIF - Niel Kemp (USNC, Canada)
X-Energy’s GEN IV Reactor Program Overview - Eben Mulder (X-Energy, United States of America)
BWXT Advanced Reactor Development - Josh Parker (BWXT Technologies, United States of America)
Closing remarks - Hiroyuki Sato (JAEA, Japan)
SFR Technical Session - Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors
Opening remarks and scope of session - Frederic Serre (CEA, France)
GIF SFR Developments: Capabilities, Outcomes and Work Plans - Frederic Serre (CEA, France)
SFR Technology: Delivering on the Promise of a Clean Energy Future - Irfan Ali (ARC Clean Technology, Canada)
Oklo Aurora - Patrick Everett (OKLO, United States of America)
TerraPower Natrium - Robert Petroski (TerraPower, United States of America)
Open discussion: GIF support towards SFR commercial deployment - Bo Feng (ANL, United States of America)
Closing remarks - Bo Feng (ANL, United States of America)
MSR Technical Session - Molten Salt Reactors
Opening remarks - Stéphane Bourg (CEA, France)
MSR International collaboration in R&D - Stéphane Bourg (CEA, France)
MSR Safety R&D - David Holcomb (ORNL, United States of America)
MSR Materials R&D - Stéphane Bourg (CEA, France)
Carbon-Free Energy for Global Industry - Maria Ivanova (Terrestrial Energy, Canada)
Moltex reactor and recycling technology - Andrew Ballard (Moltex, Canada)
Orano’s vision on MSR: potential, challenges and R&D needs - Elisa Capelli (ORANO, France)
Closing remarks - Stéphane Bourg (CEA, France)
LFR Technical Session - Lead-cooled Fast Reactors
Opening remarks - Mariano Tarantino (ENEA, Italy)
Status of Lead-cooled Fast Reactor Activities in GEN-IV Countries/Entities - Mariano Tarantino (ENEA, Italy)
MYRRHA Contribution to LFR industrial development - Rafael Fernandez (SCK-CEN, Belgium)
ALFRED Staged Approach towards LFR deployment - Michele Frignani (Ansaldo, Italy)
Westinghouse LFR: overview and progress in development - Paolo Ferroni (Westinghouse, United States of America)
LeadCold’s programme to commercialise LFRs in Sweden by 2030 - Janne Wallenius (LeadCold, Sweden)
Newcleo overview and strategy on LFR development - Michele Battisin (Newcleo, Italy)
Q&A and closing remarks - Mariano Tarantino (ENEA, Italy)

 

Advanced Reactor Licensing - Licensing Readiness plans for Gen-IV Systems, Licensing Approaches and Experience (Day 4)

The GIF Risk and Safety Working Group (RSWG) promotes a consistent approach on safety of Gen-IV systems. Since its formation, the group established broad safety principles and attributes as input to R&D plans for specific design tracks based on high level GIF safety and reliability goals, and developed the Integrated Safety Assessment Methodology (ISAM) as a technology-neutral toolkit to support the design efforts. More recent RSWG emphasis has been on preparation of system safety assessments as a summary of high-level safety design attributes and remaining R&D needs, and development of system-specific safety design criteria, in close coordination with the GIF System Steering Committees. This first Advanced Reactor Licensing session, organized jointly by the RSWG and OECD/NEA’s Working Group on Safety of Advanced Reactors (WGSAR), included an introduction of GIF basis of safety approach and presentations from select regulatory organizations on their ongoing licensing readiness efforts and plans, approaches and experience for Gen-IV systems.
 

  • Opening remarks - Tanju Sofu (ANL, United States of America)
  • GIF basis of safety approach for Gen-IV systems - Tanju Sofu (ANL, United States of America)
  • WGSAR effort on materials qualification and lifetime performance - Wendy Reed (NRC, Canada)
  • NRC readiness and plans for non-LWR licensing - Boyce Travis (NRC, Canada)
  • Licensing readiness plans and summary of vendor design reviews - Caroline Ducros (CNSC, Canada)
  • Advanced reactor fuel qualification framework - Boyce Travis (NRC, Canada)
  • Terrestrial Energy’s Experience with CNSC’s Vendor Design Review of the IMSR400 - Robert Ion (Terrestrial Energy, Canada)
  • Natrium Demo licensing plans - Ryan Sprengel (TerraPower, United States of America)

Gen-IV Innovators’ Panel - Discussions from leading innovators in the Generation IV nuclear field (Day 4)

Each speaker made a short presentation, providing experience-based insights for the early career attendees on how innovation can lead to breakthrough opportunities in the nuclear field. This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by John Kelly.

Participants:

  • Robert Petroski (TerraPower)
  • Sang-Il Lee (Hyundai Engineering)
  • Marcy Sanderson (X-energy)
  • Dominick Claudio (NuScale Power)
  • Cal Doucette (ARC Energy)

 

International Knowledge Management and Preservation - Knowledge management and preservation strategies using Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors as a case study (Day 4)

The objective of this session was to assemble an international SFR panel which discusses the lessons learned on the design, construction, and operation of SFRs (Phénix/Superphénix, Monju/Joyo, and Fast Flux Test Facility) and how the transfer of knowledge is passed on in an international context to companies planning on building SFRs ranging in power from 300 to 1,200Mwe. Our international panel consists of three senior SFR subject matter experts from France, Japan and the United States who have worked on past SFRs or current SFR projects. Our international panel also includes two engineers from Canada and the United States involved with designing/constructing either large or small SFR.

  • Opening remarks and panel introduction - Patricia Paviet (PNNL, United States of America)
  • European feedback experience on the sodium fast reactors and transmission for the future - Joel Guidez (CEA, France)
  • Knowledge management and preservation from Joyo, Monju and JSFR experiences - Hiroki Hayafune (JAEA, Japan)
  • Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) Knowledge Management and Preservation - Ron Omberg (PNNL, United States of America)
  • Natrium: Utilizing the Past to Realize the Future - Patrick Alexander (TerraPower, United States of America)
  • Incorporating operating experience and technical developments, the ARC-100 reactor - Cal Doucette (ARC Energy, Canada)
  • Q&A
  • Closing remarks - Patricia Paviet (PNNL, United States of America)