Safety Assessment of Non-Electric uses of nuclear energy

Safety Assessment of Non-Electric uses of nuclear energy (SANE) project investigates the potential of non-electric usage of nuclear energy, the safety aspects of reactors designed for non-electric use as well as the safety implications of the end use. As many of the applications are novel, their use needs to be properly communicated to various stakeholders, and for this the project includes work on risk communication.

Non-electric uses are identified in EU SMR pre-Partnership as one of the high level R&D needs, and the understanding of the potential applications and their limitations as well as the challenges in integration of nuclear energy to end use were seen as important issues to be studied. Non-electric uses will be an important way to diversify the income streams of nuclear plants, as the electricity production will become more and more competitive. Nuclear has unique advantages in non-electric uses as it can produce lot of energy locally for large local uses.

SANE aims to review potential future uses of nuclear energy in order to facilitate their implementation in the near future. This project aims to provide information for both industrial applications retrofitted to operating nuclear power plants, as well as for novel reactors dedicated for non-electric uses. Information needs for appropriate risk communication is studied with case studies in several countries, and a specific study on communications during abnormal situations is done based on the events that transpired in Ukraine during Russia's invasion.