US-based Amentum and Norwegian engineering and architecture company Multiconsult Norge have been selected by Halden Kjernekraft to evaluate deployment of a small modular reactor (SMR) in Norway.
The two companies will assess potential suppliers of equipment and services within Norway and from abroad, and will report on technical standards, environmental impact and other key aspects of any construction programme.
Halden Kjernekraft was set up by Norsk Kjernekraft (40%), Østfold Energi (40%) and the municipality of Halden (20%) to investigate the construction of a NPP using SMR technology. “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.”
Andy White, Amentum Senior Vice President, Energy & Environment International said: “Working with Multiconsult, we will draw on our extensive knowledge of 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.”
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, which has more than 60 years of experience of hosting the Institute for Energy Technology’s nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor, which was 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 reactor.
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 Milestones Approach.
In August, Norsk Kjernekraft submitted a proposal to Norway’s Energy Ministry for an assessment to construct 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.
