A study by Dutch research and production organisation NRG PALLAS NRG-Pallas commissioned by Gelderland province has identified four regions suitable for hosting a small modular reactor (SMR). The 58-page study looked at the technical conditions for constructing an SMR in Gelderland including: sufficient available space; guarantee of safety for the environment; availability of sufficient cooling water in the area; and regional energy demand. Gelderland aims to designate two locations for an SMR in 2027.
“By combining this type of data with, for example, the permit requirements that a plant must meet, it becomes clear which areas could be suitable,” the province said. The four areas identified as potentially suitable are: Arnhem-Nijmegen, Rivierenland, IJssel-Zuid and Randmeren.
NRG-Pallas said the study is exploratory and does not indicate specific locations. “It provides an initial insight into the (environmental) factors that determine an SMR in Gelderland. The province will now continue discussions with municipalities and other stakeholders to make the possibilities more concrete. This will not only look at the technical suitability, but also at social and political preconditions, such as support and regional energy visions.” NRG-Pallas is already talking to municipalities to understand which ones have a positive attitude towards construction of an SMR.
Ans Mol, energy deputy for Gelderland said identification of four possible areas “is a great outcome” offering “realistic possibilities that match our ambitions”. She added: “In the coming period, we will do follow-up research and enter into discussions to make the arrival of an SMR even more concrete.”
The province said an SMR could contribute to the reduction of the use of fossil fuels and the sustainability of the energy supply in the region. “We see an important role for nuclear energy.”
A joint report by NRG-Pallas and TNO in November 2024 concluded there is room for more than 13 150 MWe SMRs in the Netherlands by 2050. If constraints on the potential deployment capacity are partially lifted, as is done in some of the what-if analyses, it is observed that there may even be room for more than 27 SMRs.
The Dutch government, in its draft Climate Fund for 2024, budgeted funds totalling €320m ($352m) for the development of nuclear energy. The funds are intended to support the operational extension of the existing Borssele NPP, the construction of two new large reactors, the development of SMRs and for nuclear skills development.
