SSTC NRS Continues Participation in Clean Steel and Phoenix Projects

Last week, a series of kick-off meetings was held in Krakow within the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of SMR Technology Program (FIRST) of the U.S. Department of State. The implementation of three interrelated Projects (Clean Fuels, Clean Steel and Phoenix) is envisaged within this Program.

Oleksandr Pecherytsia, Deputy Director of Scientific and International Activities of the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC NRS), participated in the discussion on the Clean Steel and Phoenix Projects.

The main purpose of the Clean Steel Project is to develop a Roadmap for the rebuilding, modernizing and decarbonizing of the steel sector in Ukraine using the SMR technology.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of State, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Hatch Consulting Engineering and Project Implementation, American Society of Mechanical Engineers participated in the meeting. Representatives of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Economy, Energoatom and others participated for Ukraine together with the SSTC NRS.

The participants were divided into two groups for more effective coordination: nuclear and steel sectors. Within the group focusing on nuclear issues, Oleksandr Pecherytsia shared experience in the review of advanced nuclear technologies and spoke about the role of the SSTC NRS in the Clean Steel Project.

“We will provide the US partners with expert and advisory support on different regulatory and technical issues. At the same time, we will work on adapting best practice in comprehensive assessment of safety and economic issues related to the implementation of advanced technologies”, the expert said.

As a result of three-day discussion, the participants agreed that the Roadmap will be designed by the US partners and sent to the Ukrainian experts for revision. The Roadmap will consist of five main sections, in particular: “Steel Sector of Ukraine”, “Rebuilding and Decarbonizing of Steel Sector”, “Analysis of SMR Technologies to Promote Decarbonizing of Steel Sector”, “Business Case: Representative Analysis of Commercial Use of SMR for Steel Production at a Specific Site” and “Further Steps”. Together with other organizations, the SSTC NRS will be involved in the third, fourth and fifth sections of the Roadmap.

The Phoenix Project was the second project discussed during the kick-off meetings. Its main purpose is to provide technical support to promote the conversion of coal-fired power plants to modern and environmentally clean SMR.

The Project consists of three main phases: “Start and Agreement of Details”, “Data Collection” and “Feasibility Study and Case Studies”. The SSTC NRS will participate in each of them.

Representatives of the U.S. Department of State, Institute for Electric Power Research, private US engineering and advisory companies and experts of the SNRIU, Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Energoatom, Ukrenergo National Power Company and others participated in the discussion of the Project tasks.

At the meeting, specific attention was paid to siting justification and identification of the size of the emergency planning areas around nuclear facilities. Oleksandr Pecherytsia presented an overview of national regulatory requirements for the specified issues. At the same time, the expert proposed the participants to identify the list of general technical areas for which there is a need for studying the current Ukrainian regulatory requirements within the Phoenix Project.

The Head of the Department for Management and Implementation of Investment Projects of the Centrenergo Company reported that the site of Trypillia thermal power plant located in the Kyiv Region may be chosen as a potential site for the Phoenix Project. Oleksandr Kosinskyi, Energoatom representative, added that 12 sites were defined as potential ones for SMR placement in the territory of Ukraine according to preliminary assessment of the operating organization.

“The implementation of the Clean Steel and Phoenix Projects is extremely important and timely for Ukraine, especially in conditions of constant russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of our county. The Projects provide for a comprehensive analysis of the state of the energy system, feasibility studies to assess and select relevant sites and technologies for SMR. As a result, the Roadmaps will be developed and cases will be implemented to contribute to the production of clean energy and decarbonization of the steel sector of Ukraine”, Oleksandr Pecherytsia said.