Nuclear Technology and Innovation

The development and application of nuclear technology requires more than expertise in reactor technology alone. Materials, corrosion and lifetime performance, sensors, monitoring, system integration, digitalisation and the responsible management of radioactive waste are all critical to creating safe, reliable and industrially applicable systems.

TNO supports technology developers, businesses and governments through research, technology development, testing and validation. We combine expertise in reactor and system technology, materials, sensors, monitoring, digitalisation and maritime technology. This knowledge is applied to existing nuclear installations, advanced SMRs and Generation IV reactors, as well as innovative applications in industry, the maritime sector and offshore environments. In this way, we help translate nuclear concepts into safe, reliable and industrially applicable systems.

Small Modular Reactors

SMRs are smaller reactors that can be developed and deployed in a modular manner. TNO investigates where and under what conditions these reactors could provide added value, including for:

• electricity generation;
• the supply of high-temperature heat to industry;
• combined heat and power generation;
• the production of hydrogen or other energy carriers;
• regional energy systems and industrial clusters;
• maritime and offshore applications.

We distinguish between water-cooled Generation III SMRs, which are largely based on existing reactor technology, and advanced SMRs and Generation IV reactors. The latter involve additional innovation challenges relating to materials, coolants, fuels, instrumentation and control systems, safety and applications beyond electricity generation.

Using the OPERA energy system model, TNO and NRG PALLAS have investigated the potential role of SMRs in producing electricity and industrial process heat in the Netherlands.

Read more about the potential role of SMRs in the energy system.

Technology development and innovative applications

TNO supports not only the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation, but also the development of knowledge and technology for innovative nuclear applications in industry and in the maritime and offshore sectors.

We combine expertise in:

• reactor and system technology;
• the integration of electricity, heat and hydrogen production;
• thermal hydraulics and flow modelling;
• materials, corrosion and lifetime assessment;
• sensors, instrumentation and control systems;
• monitoring, inspection and diagnostics;
• safety and risk management;
• digitalisation, simulation and data analytics;
• robotics and autonomous systems;
• maritime and offshore technology.

This combination of expertise helps technology developers and users translate concepts for existing nuclear installations, advanced SMRs and Generation IV reactors into safe, reliable and industrially applicable systems.

Materials, components and lifetime

Nuclear installations place stringent demands on materials and components. High temperatures, pressure, radiation and contact with specialised coolants can affect material behaviour and service life.

TNO has expertise and testing capabilities in failure analysis, materials research, mechanical testing, chemical analysis, corrosion testing, coatings and joining technologies. Relevant conditions can be simulated on an accelerated basis to investigate corrosion behaviour, service life and potential failure mechanisms.

This knowledge can be applied to:

• material selection and qualification;
• damage and failure analysis and prevention;
• corrosion, erosion, and wear studies;
• welding, brazing, and other joining technologies;
• lifetime prediction and lifetime extension;
• component development and validation;
• selection of relevant measurement and inspection techniques;
• understanding the chemistry of molten salts;
• inspection and maintenance strategies.

By combining materials research with sensors and monitoring, changes in temperature, strain, vibration and material properties can be monitored during operation. This can help identify ageing mechanisms, degradation and potential failure mechanisms at an earlier stage and provide a stronger basis for maintenance decisions.

Read more about damage, corrosion and materials research at TNO.

Sensors, instrumentation and monitoring

The safe use of nuclear technology requires reliable information about the condition of materials, components and systems. TNO develops sensors, instrumentation and monitoring systems that enable processes and installations to be monitored under demanding conditions.

Our expertise includes:

• optical, acoustic/ultrasonic measurement technologies;
• fibre-optic sensors;
• monitoring of temperature, pressure, strain, vibration and flow;
• measurements on materials and components under demanding process conditions, such as extreme temperatures;
• structural health monitoring;
• detection of substances, particles and radiation;
• integration of sensors into components and installations;
• processing and interpretation of measurement data;
• development of instrumentation and control systems;
• experimental validation and calibration of sensors and instrumentation.

Monitoring is not limited to collecting individual measurements. The objective is to make installations sufficiently observable to detect deviations, degradation and disruptions at an early stage, assess the consequences for essential functions and support operators in intervention and recovery.

Nuclear technology for maritime and offshore applications

In the longer term, nuclear technology could offer opportunities for the propulsion and energy supply of ships and offshore installations with large and sustained energy requirements. Deployment at sea also raises specific questions relating to safety, design, platform integration, staffing, regulation, supervision, liability, access to ports and societal acceptance.

TNO is involved in NuclearDrive, a Dutch flagship project within the Maritime Manufacturing Industry Sector Agenda. The project investigates how nuclear energy could be applied in the maritime sector, particularly for ship propulsion. Businesses, research organisations and public authorities are working together to assess its technical and practical feasibility. The project addresses reactor technology, safety, regulations and economic feasibility.

Within TNO, nuclear propulsion is addressed from a multidisciplinary perspective. Maritime and structural integration are combined with analyses of mission profiles, operating conditions, safety, availability, logistics and decision-making under disruption. Sensors and monitoring systems are important for integrated monitoring of the technical condition and safe operation of the reactor, propulsion system and platform. Activities within NuclearDrive also address issues relating to regulation, supervision and liability.

Read more about the NuclearDrive project.

Nuclear energy for defence and critical applications

In the longer term, nuclear energy systems could be relevant to military bases, remote locations, maritime platforms and other applications where sustained availability, strategic autonomy and security of supply are important.

TNO supports the assessment of these applications from the perspective of operational requirements. We investigate where a nuclear option could add value and under what conditions it could be deployed responsibly. The assessment can include mission and use scenarios, energy requirements, availability, logistics, staffing, safety, security, continuity and recoverability.

The strength of TNO lies in connecting these operational questions with expertise in energy systems, reactors, maritime technology, materials, sensors, physical and cybersecurity and systems integration. This allows a nuclear option to be compared with alternatives and assessed in terms of operational value, technical feasibility and the conditions required for safe deployment.

These activities focus on energy generation and directly related applications, such as propulsion. Research into nuclear weapons or their offensive use falls outside this scope.

Technology and policy in context

Technological development does not take place in isolation. The application of nuclear technology also requires choices regarding societal integration, knowledge development and collaboration.

Read more about policy and decision-making on nuclear technology.

Work with TNO

Would you like to understand what role nuclear technology could play in your industrial process, vessel, offshore application or defence-related challenge? Or are you looking for an independent partner in technology development, materials research, sensors or monitoring?

Contact TNO to explore opportunities for research, innovation and collaboration.