This NEST project aims to integrate existing small modular reactor (SMR) research projects from individual participating organisations into a broader and more impactful programme. The project is addressing challenges and opportunities in regards to the development and deployment of SMRs. Key topic areas that are covered under the project include SMR technology assessment and development, regulatory frameworks, societal issues, spent fuel management, and SMR economics.

The project structure is flexible allowing for case studies to be added, modified or removed to potentially address new areas of research (subject to NEST Management Board approval). It also provides multi-disciplinary and multi-national training opportunities for NEST Fellows. The NEST SMR project is holistic in scope with a programme that is both impactful and relevant for the future deployment of SMR technologies globally.  

Background

The development of SMRs for near-term deployment is progressing globally and these innovative technologies have a high degree of promise as an option to provide both baseload and flexible energy generation to ensure security of supply within carbon free energy systems. There are many forces behind the development of SMRs, including:

• meeting the need for flexible power generation for a wide range of users and applications;
• replacing fossil-fuel fired power plants;
• offering suitability for cogeneration and non-electricity applications;
• providing options for remote regions and countries with less developed energy infrastructures; and
• offering possibilities for synergetic hybrid energy systems that combine nuclear and alternate energy sources, including renewables.

Many countries around the world are interested in SMRs as this technology has the potential to alter the nuclear landscape and drive a realistic, sustainable low carbon future.

 Objectives

The NEST SMR project aims to advance the understanding around the technology, regulatory framework, societal issues, spent fuel management, and economics associated with the deployment of small modular reactors. The project’s programme of work includes:

• NEST fellowships embedded in Master’s projects, or as part of PhD or post-doctoral programmes;
• Active presence and participation of NEST fellows during the various experimental test campaigns and in the accompanying project meetings;
• Workshops, seminars and dedicated NEST educational events;
• Developing dedicated exploratory research projects (e.g. based on experimental and/or analytical activities in SMR technology) that engage the professors at the participating organisations in order to ensure continuity. These projects could well be carried out in time frames beyond the SMR project.

The partnership of experts from Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland and the United States aims to encourage students to pursue careers in the field of SMRs by proposing a multinational framework in which they can gain valuable knowledge and acquire new skills. In doing so, the SMR project will help address issues related to nuclear skills capacity building, knowledge transfer and technical innovation.

Leading organisation

• McMaster University, Canada

Participating organisations

• University of Regina, Canada
• Purdue University, United States
• Texas A&M University, United States
• University of California-Berkeley, United States
• University of Illinois, United States
• University of Michigan, United States
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Utah State University, United States
• SCK-CEN, Belgium

Fellows

2020

• Floris Abrams, KULeuven, Belgium
• Cahit Alkan, McMaster University, Canada
• Garik Patterson, McMaster University, Canada
• Gizem Bakir, McMaster University, Canada
• Isabella McDonald, McMaster University, Canada
• Liz Macconachie, McMaster University, Canada
• Nikolai Vododokhov, McMaster University, Canada
• Sameer Reodikar, McMaster University, Canada
• Mackenzie Brandon, Ontario Tech, Canada
• Paige Wilson, University of New Brunswick, Canada
• Jane Akpen, University of Regina, Canada
• Larissa Shasko, University of Regina, Canada
• Larkin Mosscrop, University of Regina, Canada
• Dazawray Landrie-Parker, University of Saskachetwan, Canada
• Maria Iakovleva, University of Saskachetwan, Canada
• Michaela Neetz, University of Saskachetwan, Canada
• Branden Passons, Texas A&M, United States
• Cole Mueller, Texas A&M, United States
• Dahvien Dean, Texas A&M, United States
• Mario Mendoza, Texas A&M, United States
• Mohammad Bani Ahmad, Texas A&M, United States
• Peter German, Texas A&M, United States
• Tyler Gates, Texas A&M, United States
• Jun Shi, University of California Berkeley, United States
• Tatiana Siaraferas, University of California Berkeley, United States
• Yves Robert, University of California Berkeley, United States
• Jun Wang, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Ryan Dailey, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Shaun Aakre, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Taeho Kim, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States

2021

• Cuahtemoc Reale Hernandez, McMaster University, Canada
• Elliot Berg, McMaster University, Canada
• Fabiola Guido Garcia, McMaster University, Canada
• Felix Yuan, McMaster University, Canada
• Jennifer Ward, McMaster University, Canada
• Miao Yu, McMaster University, Canada
• Phillip Barron, McMaster University, Canada
• Sebastian Carter, McMaster University, Canada
• Sophie Bierer, McMaster University, Canada
• Valerie Stephens, McMaster University, Canada
• Katherine Green, Ontario Tech, Canada
• Clarisse Uwamahoro, University of Regina, Canada
• Stephen Darko, University of Regina, Canada
• Rubens Yanes, University of Saskachetwan, Canada
• Nathanael Gardner, University of California Berkeley, United States
• Michael Borrello, University of California Berkeley, United States
• Nathan Piersma, University of Michigan, United States
• Seerat Kaur, University of Michigan, United States
• Sienna Fratila, University of Michigan, United States

2022

• Aleksandr Tsybanev, SCK-CEN, Belgium
• Ewout Vereecke, SCK-CEN, Belgium
• Noelia Fuentes Solis, SCK-CEN, Belgium
• Basma Fouad, McMaster University, Canada
• Colin Colterjohn, McMaster University, Canada
• Peter Kriemadis, McMaster University, Canada
• Kevin Ruiz, McMaster University, Canada
• Mustafa Ciftcioglu, Ontario Tech, Canada
• Maryam Rezvaniam, Queens University, Canada
• Nathan McNally, University of New Brunswick, Canada
• Francisco Sahagun, University of Regina, Canada
• Rituraj Bhadra, University of Waterloo, Canada
• Molly Ross, Purdue University, United States
• T-Ying Lin, Purdue University, United States
• Brent Hollrah, Texas A&M, United States
• Noah Sutton, Texas A&M, United States
• Sari Alkahtib, University of Illinois, United States
• Andrew Napora, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Ryder L Belgarde, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Lewis Francisco Handy-Cardenas, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
• Aiden Meek, Utah State University, United States
• Seth Dana, Utah State University, United States