Status of Small Reactor Designs Without On-Site Refuelling

The objective of this report is to provide Member States, including those considering the initiation of nuclear power programmes and those already having practical experience in nuclear power, with balanced and objective information on a number of issues. These include: important development trends and objectives of small reactors without on-site refuelling; achieving state of the art in design and technology development for such reactors; and their design status and possible applications. The report is intended for many categories of stakeholders, including electricity producers, policy makers, designers and regulators. The main chapters of this report survey emerging energy market characteristics, introduce a rationale for such reactors and review their design and technological development status with a consideration for associated fuel cycle and institutional issues. The annexes provide detailed design descriptions of small reactors without on-site refuelling, focusing on their potential to provide solutions in the areas of concern associated with future nuclear energy systems.