The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Joint Program Nuclear Materials JPNM

Background In the framework of SNETP it was decided to initiate: European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII) Joint Program Nuclear Materials (JPNM) under the umbrella of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) The ongoing Getmat project (focused on GenIV nuclear materials) provided a framework of reference for the definition of the activities of the JPNM

Motivation of JPNM  Fission energy can contribute to the 2050 objectives of low carbon energy mix (SET-plan)  A new generation of reactors (Gen IV) and associated fuel cycles for increased safety, security, efficiency, and sustainability can be developed by acting now  Materials science and new materials development are key aspects to meet Gen-IV objectives, which are: Safety and reliability Proliferation resistance and physical protection Sustainability and waste minimisation Enhanced Economics

EERA vision on JPNM The EERA Vision for the Joint Program on Nuclear Materials is: Promote synergies and cooperation between national research institutes to a new paradigm: from participation within projects to collectively plan and integrate joint research programmes Provide coordination of scientific and technological R&D activities in support of the EII (ESNII) and the technology roadmap (SNETP) Keep European competences and expertise in the nuclear materials field at the highest standards and attract best scientists Keep Europe at a front-runner position in terms of quality of research and in terms of spin-off to industrial application in this key technological area.

Chronological steps of JPNM setup 1.Recommendation by EERA Executive Committee and SNETP to build the JPNM (mid 2009) 2.Organisation of 6 workshops for the building of the JPNM and drafting the DoW (mid 2009 – December 2010) 3.Presentation of the JPNM to the EERA Executive Committee and approval of JPNM and JPC (November 2010) 4.Launching of the JPNM at the SET-Plan conference in Brussels on November 2010 together with ESNII 5.First JPNM Management Board Meeting on February 8, 2011 in Bologna, as part of the MATTER technical kick-off meeting 6.JPNM kick-off meeting and first JPSC meeting organised June 2011

Under the auspices of the SNETP and EERA umbrella, 1 st EERA (JPNM) workshop organized by KIT (formerly FZK), CEA and ENEA in Karlsruhe on 19 th June Participants: a first core of R&D organizations (identified within SNETP and EERA) ready to commit resources ( ENEA, JRC, NRG, INR, PSI, SCK  CEN, VTT, FZJ, KIT, CEA,CIEMAT, FZD, UJV, UK-EPSRC) Objectives: −To sketch a common strategy with common projects and tasks −To get a critical mass of manpower ready to commit on the mid-long term. Basis for discussion: −SNETP/SRA and a questionnaire to identify priorities −Take into account the existing cooperation on GEN IV (GetMat) Initiation of the JPNM

Agreed Steps at the first Meeting Preparation of the draft program: −KIT: general coordinator  JRC coordinator for ESNII materials  CEA coordinator for ODS steels  ENEA/INR coordinator for ceramic composites and refractory alloys,  SCK-CEN coordinator for modelling A first draft of the JPNM DoW was foreseen by end October 2009: state of the art, objectives, key research items, main tasks, main milestones 2 nd workshop was to be hosted by ENEA in November 2009, to achieve the overall program definition. After detailed tasks definition and negotiation on organizational issues, the joint program was expected to be ready to start for the 1st quarter of A first estimation of the man power ready to be committed was about m- year on the mid term

 November 16, 2009, ENEA  January 27, 2010, CEA  June 1, 2010, KIT  September 16, 2010, CIEMAT  December 10, 2010, JRC Even though the fundamental structure and ideas remained, many details changed from one meeting to the other. Consolidation took more than 2 workshops

JPNM Objectives  Maintain and enhance scientific excellence in nuclear materials science in Europe  Support ESNII and more in general the SNE-TP SRA implementation Specifically:  Address and solve general nuclear materials outstanding issues that are key for safety and efficiency  Screening of existing materials, development of innovative materials  Fabrication issues (processing, welding, joining, …)  Experimental characterisation and qualification/validation  Pre-normative research  Predictive modelling and simulation of materials behaviour  Ultimately ensure availability of perfomant structural and clad materials to safely withstand severe conditions and requirements foreseen in Gen-IV systems ( high temperature, high fuel burn-up/high dose, corrosive environment ).

JPNM Added Value  Identification of agreed upon list of priorities for materials R&D  Identification of common research strategies  Preparation and implementation of joint projects  Identification of funding opportunities also beyond EC support  Framework to share results obtained from a number of projects – beyond share within a single project only Forum to discuss results and exchange information and knowledge  Possibility to share facilities and exchange scientists Overcome difficulty to tackle problems within reasonable timeframes

Structure of JPNM JP on Materials for Nuclear (Concetta Fazio, KIT) Support to the European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII) Karl Fredrik Nilsson, JRC SP1 Oxide Dispersed Strengthened (ODS) Steels Yann de Carlan, CEA SP2 Refractory materials: ceramic composites and metal-based alloys Marie-Francoise Maday, ENEA SP3 Modelling: Correlation, Simulation and Experimental Validation Lorenzo Malerba, SCK-CEN SP4

In summary … SP1 (ESNII) – Short-term Focus on existing materials, qualification and pre-normative research, in support of ESNII SP4 (Modelling) – Cross-cutting Development of predictive models in support of other SPs, in both short and long term perspective SP2- ODS – Long-term Focus on development of ODS alloys for high burnup and high temperature cladding in S/LFR SP3 (Comp/Refr) – Long-term Focus on development of high- temperature materials (mainly ceramic composites) for GFR Joint programme on nuclear materials

Organisation of JPNM First proposal before presentation to the EERA Executive Committee Worth presenting the different versions? (It was a sort of internal pb of the EERA ExCo)

Organisation of JPNM EERA Executive Committee JP Nuclear Materials Steering Committee JP Nuclear Materials Management Board Sub-programmes Second proposal after the presentation to the EERA Executive Committee

Management of JPNM EERA Executive Committee JP Nuclear Materials Steering Committee JP Nuclear Materials Management Board Sub-programmes Third proposal after the latest workshop

 Pilot Projects (PP)  Joint Technical Teams (JTT)  Task Forces (TF)  Training and Mobility Schemes (T&M) The JPMB has recognized that by defining the instruments above the following activities might not be clearly included : Platform to share codes (e.g. WP4 of SP4) Materials database (e.g. MATTER DM2 Test Case) Instruments for Implementation

Pilot Projects Focused on a specific topic Based on the principles of coordination of use of resources and complementarity Number of participants at least 3 Duration of at least 1 year, effort of at least 1 PY/Y Non-EERA JP contributors with less than 5 PY/Y can be associated through EERA JP participants. In general the EERA IPR rules should be followed But it is known that this might be a problem in some cases and require specific agreement (e.g. consortium agreement)

Joint Technical Teams (JTT) Each Joint Technical Team is composed by the researchers working on a specific overall theme within one or more than one Sub-Program, as indicated by participants (list of contacts) The objective is to review and compare results, discuss them, and put together ideas JTTs meet regularly in workshops to monitor what is being done within the specific technical area in which they work JTT revise and propose modifications to the official SP description JTT identify and elaborate jointly pilot project proposals Once established, JTTs remain active on a permanent basis

Task Force (TF) The task forces are groups of experts appointed by participants A TF addresses specific tasks within a short period of time and produces a roadmap, a plan or an advice. TFs can be used for example to define a work program for research lines that are considered of importance but on which no well-defined activity exists or no clear plan has been elaborated yet The TF produces a report which remains with the JP and can be considered a deliverable. The TF can identify and elaborate jointly pilot project proposals, as a result of the work.

Training and Mobility Schemes (T&M) The objective is to allow the mobility within the JP of, especially, young researchers, with a view also to sharing facilities  Schemes of this type will be set up taking advantage of opportunities such as: KIC-Innoenergy COST actions Marie Curie training networks, joining Universities, Research Centre etc.

MATTER as 1 st EERA JPNM Project Objectives of MATTER –Framework to support coordination activities of the JPNM (DM3) –Best practice guidelines for testing and evaluation aimed at screening and characterizing materials (part of DM1) –Pre-normative research activities, to answer some short term needs of ASTRID and MYRRHA (part of DM2)

Beyond MATTER and GETMAT MATTER addresses short-term issues on existing materials in support of ESNII front-runners (Myrrha, Astrid) GETMAT has set the bases for the qualification and development of innovative materials Further steps: −Nuclear-grade, latest generation high-temperature materials of optimised composition, from conventional to oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steels, including ceramics (SiC), to guarantee safety and design flexibility −Full materials qualification under conditions of relevance for innovative reactor concepts (high-temperature behaviour, compatibility with liquid metals, irradiation  need for adequate facilities, like Myrrha) −Extensive use of modelling and simulation tools for the optimisation of materials composition and safer design

CEAFrance CIEMATSpain CNRItaly CV Rez (RC Rez)Czech Republic ENEAItaly HZDRGermany INRRumania JRC-IEEU KITGermany KTHSweden NRGThe Netherland PSISwitzerland SCKCENBelgium UKERCUK VTTFinland Participants in the JPNM (as of January 2012)             

Industry EDF, France CSM, Italy R&D / Universities ULB, Belgium Politecnico di Torino, Italy MPA Stuttgart, Germany IFE, Norway CNRS, France Potential Associates in the JPNM

Summary The EERA JPNM was motivated by the SNE-TP in the framework of the actions for the SET-plan – based on Getmat project, has produced so far the Matter project It is a promising forum for coordinating research efforts towards the goal of developing nuclear materials that guarantee safe operation, design flexibility, and efficiency, while keeping nuclear expertise in Europe at the forefront While self-supported actions are being launched, additional financial support and availability of experimental facilities will be instrumental for its success