Nuclear in Italy, from fuels to cooling: ten questions and answers to understand how it will return

1 When has Italy decided to return to nuclear power?

A first formal decision was taken on February 28 of this year When the Council of Ministers approved the proxy bill on the new sustainable nuclear nuclear proposed by the owner of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Safety Gilberto Pichetto Fratin. Among other things, the objective is to regulate the production of energy through the new modules, the dismantling of the old central, the management of waste. The birth of a regulatory authority is expected.

2 Which type of nuclear power will we use?

The government has specified that the large plants will not return, but they will be small new generation reactors such as
Small Modular Reactors
(SMR) e The Advanced Modular Reactors
(Amr).

They are reactors in which a nuclear reaction takes place based on existing technology (third generation or third generation advanced), but are smaller. They have a power up to 400 megawatts. A modern power plant generally has an average power of 1,200-1,600 megawatts.

4 Which type of fuel use?

They use uranium or uranium and plutonium as nuclear power used in large plants.

5 What is the advantage of SMRs?

They are very compact reactors that occupy less soil and require less water for cooling. They are able to resist extreme events. They are modular and therefore have faster construction times.

6 How much does an SMR reactor cost?

There is talk of about two billion, but these are indicative prices because no one today markets them today.

SMR also of advanced type have already been produced and in operation for years in Russia and China and others are being built with an entry times in operation of 2-3 years.

SMRs will be under construction in the coming years in Canada, USA and Great Britain. They are also in the design phase in France and Italy. Last year the EU started the EU SMR Industrial Allianceto encourage the development and realization of the first SMR in Europe in the early 2030s. Nine projects have already been identified, at least four are already well known water technologies. Several EU countries (Poland, Romania, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Rep., Estonia) program or seriously consider the creation of SMR.

What are Advanced Modular Reactors?

They are advanced reactors that are based on fourth generation technologies, which use new cooling systems (not water but for example liquid lead) and innovative fuels that can also be the radioactive waste of the old central.

9 What technologies will we use in Italy?

It is not yet possible to give an answer, because the different technologies are not yet available. Just to study and compare technologies, a new Enel -led company has been announced (which will have 51%, with Ansaldo Energia at 30%and Leonardo at 10%) which will have the task of evaluating the technical and economic applicability in the Italian context, selecting the most interesting technologies.

10 When will we have the first reactors in Italy?

The date is not yet expected, the government indicates the early 2030s. On the basis of the integrated national plan and climate (PNIEC), it should provide about 10% of the Italian needs in the 30s and to rise to 20% to 2050.

(With the advice of Stefano Monti, president of the European Nuclear Society; and Marco Ricotti, Professor of Nuclear Plants, Polytechnic of Milan)