Speaker
Description
The current regulatory framework for power reactors in Finland is designed to regulate large light water reactors intended for electricity production, located in relatively remote areas and constructed and operated by well-established nuclear power companies with extensive in-house competence. However, the growing interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), particularly for district heating purposes, challenges the validity of these assumptions.
The regulatory framework is being developed to serve varying approaches to deploying nuclear energy and to enable emerging technologies, when demonstrated to be safe. A comprehensive reform of related legislation is currently in progress. Both the licensing process and safety requirements are being thoroughly reviewed and adjusted as needed. Concurrently, STUK is adapting its oversight practices accordingly.
This paper outlines how SMRs are being considered in the reform. It includes practical examples to illustrate the work. The first example involves revising regulations to permit a case-by-case definition of emergency planning zones. The second example addresses the establishment of a pre-licensing step for evaluating designs before entering construction license phase. The third case discusses the utilization of design evaluations, such as the joint early review of Nuward, to support the development of the regulatory framework.
| Country OR International Organization | Finland |
|---|---|
| Email address | minna.tuomainen@stuk.fi |
| Confirm that the work is original and has not been published anywhere else | YES |
