SAFIR2018: The Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Power Plant Safety 2015-2018: Final Report

The Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Power Plant Safety 2015–2018, SAFIR2018, continues a series of Finnish national research programmes in nuclear energy that started in 1989. The programmes were initially carried out separately in the fields of operational aspects of safety (YKÄ 1990–1994, RETU 1995–1998) and structural safety (RATU 1990–1994, RATU2 1995–1998, OHA 1995–1998), and then in combined programmes (FINNUS 1999–2002, SAFIR2003–2006, SAFIR2010 2007- 2010, SAFIR2014 2011-2014). Simultaneously research has been carried out in the national nuclear waste management programmes (KYT2018 in parallel with SAFIR2018).

SAFIR2018 consisted of four main research areas: (1) Plant safety and systems engineering; (2) Reactor safety; (3) Structural safety and materials; and (4) Research infrastructure. Research was carried out annually in around 30 projects that were guided by six reference groups. The research results of the projects have been published in scientific journals, conference papers and research reports.

The programme management structure consisted of the Management Board, four steering groups managing the research areas, six reference groups, and programme administration. SAFIR2018 Management Board had representatives of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE), Fennovoima Oy, Fortum, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT), Aalto University (Aalto), Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT), the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes), and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM).

The research in the programme was carried out by VTT, LUT, Aalto, University of Oulu, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), University of Helsinki (Institute of Seismology, ISUH), University of Jyväskylä, RISE Research Institute of Sweden, Risk Pilot AB, Finnish Software Measurement Association FISMA and IntoWorks. A few subcontractors also contributed to the work in the projects.

This report has been prepared by the programme management in cooperation with the project leaders and project staff. More information about SAFIR2018 can be found on the programme website http://safir2018.vtt.fi/. Finnish national research on nuclear power plant safety continues in SAFIR2022 programme for the years 2019–2022, see http://safir2022.vtt.fi/.