NUWARD SMR Safety, Security and Safeguards Approach Preparing for International
Deployment

Drawing on the deep experience and understanding of the principles of nuclear safety, security and safeguards as well as many years of nuclear power plant design and operation, the EDF led NUWARD SMR Project is developing a design for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) of 340 MWe composed of two 170 MWe independent units. This concept will supplement the offer of high-output nuclear reactors, especially in response to specific needs such as replacement of fossil-fuelled power plants. NUWARD SMR is a nuclear power plant composed of two integrated Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs) with a mix of proven and innovative design features that will make it more commercially competitive, while integrating features that comply with the highest international safety, security and safeguards standards. This paper: • Summarises the foundation principles and technological background which underpin the design; • Contextualises the key design features with regard to the international safety regulatory framework with particular emphasis on innovative passive safety aspects; • Illustrates the Project activities in preparation for first licensing, including forward looking technical exchanges with the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and the French Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), and also a wider international view via the Joint Early Review with the NUWARD SMR design as a case study, including both the Finnish and Czech Republic regulators; • Illustrates the Project activities for early consideration of security and safeguards, in a holistic way; • Articulates the collaborative approach to design development from involvement with the Project partners (the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA), Naval Group, TechnicAtome, Framatome and Tractebel) to the establishment of the International NUWARD Advisory Board (INAB), to gain greater international insight and advice; • Concludes with the focus on next steps into detailed design development, standardisation of the design and its simplification to enhance its commercial competitiveness in a context of further harmonisation of the nuclear safety, security, safeguards and licensing requirements and aspirations.