Newcleo, a European advanced nuclear reactor developer, has taken a significant step forward in its technology validation process. The company has signed a collaboration agreement with Japan’s Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to test key materials for its Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) technology. This partnership, announced on October 1, will leverage JAEA’s expertise and the Joyo sodium-cooled fast reactor in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, for irradiation tests and post-irradiation examinations.
The agreement is a strategic move for newcleo, providing access to real-world irradiation environments to gather critical data on core and structural materials performance. This data is vital for the licensing and development of newcleo’s LFR-AS-30 reactor and fuel manufacturing pilot line, currently undergoing the licensing process in France. The collaboration will also supplement newcleo’s ongoing R&D activities at the ENEA Brasimone Research Centre in Bologna, Italy, where material resistance to corrosion and erosion in lead-cooled systems is being tested.
Stefano Buono, CEO of newcleo, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “JAEA’s expertise is a global reference point in fast reactor technology, with a track record of operation and research dating back to 1977. We are pleased to begin this collaboration with JAEA’s highly experienced research teams and to access their world-class facilities. Testing materials in an operational fast reactor is a unique opportunity that will provide us with invaluable data for the development and licensing of our LFRs, and for advancing next generation nuclear technology in general.”
Masanori Koguchi, president of JAEA, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It is a great privilege to contribute to newcleo’s development of innovative fast reactor technology. Through our collaboration, we hope to advance research and development in fast reactors and play a part in building a more sustainable society.”
This collaboration could significantly influence the development of advanced nuclear reactors. By validating materials in operational fast reactors, newcleo and JAEA are paving the way for safer, more efficient, and sustainable nuclear energy systems. The partnership also underscores the importance of international collaboration in advancing nuclear technology, as it brings together European innovation and Japanese expertise.
Newcleo, since its launch in 2021, has quickly established itself as an innovator in the nuclear energy sector. The company aims to design, build, and operate Generation IV Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) cooled by liquid lead and fueled by reprocessed nuclear waste. By reviving a nuclear industry model based on the manufacture and multi-recycling of Mixed Oxide fuel, newcleo seeks to close the nuclear fuel cycle while producing clean, affordable, and practically inexhaustible energy. With a workforce of over 1,100 employees across five countries, newcleo is well-positioned to make a significant impact on the future of nuclear energy.