Firms selected to evaluate SMR deployment in Halden
US-based engineering company Amentum and Norwegian consulting firm Multiconsult Norge AS have been appointed by Halden Kjernekraft AS to evaluate the potential for constructing a small modular reactor at Halden in southeast Norway, where a research reactor once operated.
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The two companies will carry out an assessment of potential suppliers of equipment and services within Norway and from abroad, as well as reporting on technical standards, environmental impact and other key aspects of any construction programme.
"Working with Multiconsult, we will draw on our extensive knowledge of small modular reactor (SMR) technology and nuclear supply chains to provide an objective, factual review and assist the municipality of Halden in making a well-informed decision as to whether nuclear power can contribute to solving its future energy needs," said Andy White, Amentum Senior Vice President, Energy & Environment International.
"We are very pleased to have chosen Amentum and Multiconsult for this task," said Halden Kjernekraft CEO Håvard Kristiansen. "Multiconsult has extensive knowledge of the Norwegian supplier industry and the energy sector, while Amentum has rich experience from the establishment of both small modular reactors and larger nuclear power plants in Europe and the UK."
Halden Kjernekraft - 20% owned by Halden municipality with Norsk Kjernekraft and Østfold Energi owning 40% each - was set up in November last year to investigate the construction of a nuclear power plant using SMR technology.
At the time of the launch of Halden Kjernekraft, the partners noted there was currently a power deficit in the Oslo, Akershus and Østfold region of 16 TWh. In addition, Norwegian grid operator Statnett has warned that there is no available capacity for new, larger consumption without new production and increased network capacity into eastern Norway. This is not expected until 2035 under current plans and has major consequences for Østfold.
The initiative to investigate the deployment of SMRs at Halden came from the municipality itself, which has more than 60 years of experience of hosting the Institute for Energy Technology's nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor. It was declared permanently shut down by the institute in June 2018.
Amentum and Multiconsult are currently carrying out engineering concept design and planning work for the decommissioning of the nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor in Halden.
Norsk Kjernekraft aims to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry. It says it will prepare licence applications in accordance with national regulations and international standards. It will follow the International Atomic Energy Agency's approach for milestones, and focus on what creates value in the early phase. Financing will take place in collaboration with capital-strong industry and solid financial players.
In August, Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to Norway's Ministry of Energy for an assessment of the construction of a power plant based on multiple SMRs in the municipality of Øygarden, west of Bergen. That proposal followed proposals submitted for SMR power plants in Aure and Heim municipalities, as well as Vardø municipality.
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