The US-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has announced that Sweden-based Vattenfall has joined its nuclear research programme.
This will give Vattenfall access to an extensive range of EPRI research results and technical guidance that can inform the safe, reliable and cost-effective operation of its nuclear facilities. Vattenfall owns two Swedish nuclear plants -Forsmark, with three boiling water reactors, and Ringhals, with three pressurised water reactors and one boiling water reactor. It also owns the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, SKB; SVAFO, a company that coordinates and manages legacy waste; and a nuclear training and safety centre, Kärnkraftsäkerhet och Utbildning (KSU).
“It is now up to us to make the most use of this gold mine of knowledge and operating experience,” said Torbjörn Wahlborg, head of Vattenfall's Generation business area. “Whenever we are confronted by a technical challenge, we can now engage EPRI in identifying a viable solution.”
EPRI’s collaborative research model enables members to reduce the costs of research allowing for further advances for the public benefit, and also share operational experience and lessons learned with the broader nuclear industry. In February, the Japan Atomic Power Company also joined EPRI’s nuclear research programme.
