On June 16th, four of Europe’s leading nuclear technology organizations – Ansaldo Nucleare, Enea, Rete, and SCK CEN – signed the creation of the Eagles Consortium, a newly established alliance, whose goal is to develop and commercialize Eagles-300, a next-generation lead-cooled Small Modular Reactor (SMR). The Belgian-Italian-Romanian consortium aims to introduce a new nuclear production technology by 2039.
The SCK in Mol can finally start planning the development of a small nuclear reactor (SMR). An SMR is a compact nuclear reactor with limited power, up to 300 MW. It is said to be safer, produce less atomic waste, reuse even the nuclear waste of old power plants, and emit fewer emissions. It is cooled with lead instead of water.
Small-scale demonstration model
The consortium will now begin developing a small-scale demonstration model in Mol, which is expected to prove that the technology for cooling nuclear reactors with lead is effective. The final model will be built in Romania. Worldwide, dozens of companies and consortia are working on their own SMR technology.
With a capacity of 350 megawatts, the SMRs are about two-thirds smaller than the largest Belgian reactors. With such a small size, they are flexible and also suitable for industrial heat supply and hydrogen production, according to the initiators.
Expertise
The Eagles Consortium combines industrial expertise with in-depth knowledge of liquid metals. This significant asset not only facilitates scientific breakthroughs but also enables the commercial application of this technology.
The project was delayed by more than a year after US nuclear power plant builder Westinghouse, a giant in the sector that was initially part of the consortium, pulled out. Now that an agreement has been reached with the remaining partners, development of the SMR can commence.
New standard for SMR
The Eagles Consortium is committed to reinforcing Europe’s leadership in next-generation nuclear reactors, aligning with European Union energy transition policies and the need for reliable, low-carbon energy sources.
The Eagles-300 reactor will be designed to offer reliable, affordable, and decarbonized energy, setting a new standard for small modular reactors.
