News
Preparations for construction of lead-cooled demonstration reactor LEANDREA take shape
Commissioned by the Belgian federal government, SCK CEN is working on an innovative lead-cooled demonstration reactor known as LEANDREA. LEANDREA is intended to demonstrate lead-cooled fast reactor technology and will also serve as an irradiation facility for materials and nuclear fuels for fast reactors. The facility will also be used for research into applications other than electricity generation.
SCK CEN plans to start construction in 2030. To realise this ambition, a robust industrial supply chain is essential, in addition to technological expertise. With that in mind, SCK CEN brought together more than 250 representatives from 175 companies at the Building Belgium’s First Lead-cooled Demonstration Reactor event. The goal? To involve potential suppliers at an early stage, get an idea of their expertise and capabilities, and lay the foundations for long-term partnerships in preparation for the further design and construction phase of LEANDREA.
BNEN welcomes its largest intake of students in 25 years
The master-after-master programme in nuclear engineering is becoming ever more popular
Twenty-five years ago, nuclear research centre SCK CEN and 5 – subsequently 6 – Belgian universities set up the BNEN inter-university master-after-master programme. This programme is designed to ensure a steady stream of new nuclear engineers and to safeguard Belgium’s nuclear expertise in the long term. Today, that remit is more relevant than ever. This is reflected in the enrolment figures: more students than ever are choosing BNEN.
Are nuclear power plants prepared for forest fires?
From the High Fens to southern Europe, images of forest fires have regularly dominated the news over the past few months. But what do fires like these mean for nuclear power plants? Are nuclear sites prepared for such situations? This question was put to our experts from the ‘Crisis Management and Policy Support (CMD)’ team as part of their scientific support for the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).
The short answer? Yes, nuclear power plants and nuclear sites are prepared for a wide range of external events, including fires in the immediate vicinity. This is not achieved through a single measure, but through multiple layers of protection and technical safeguards that work together to ensure the safety of the installation.
