Nuclear Power Technology Development Section

What the Section does

Activities conducted within the Section make use of established mechanisms. Technical Committee Meetings are convened to review progress on selected technology areas in which there is a mutual interest. For broader topics, Symposia or Conferences are held. Co-operation with non-IAEA meetings is undertaken when topics are closely related to the Section’s programme and are of interest to several Member States. Activities are not included that would otherwise be conducted by organizations in Member States on a commercial basis.

Co-operative research is performed through co-ordinated research projects (CRPs), typically 3 to 5 years in duration, which often involve experimental activities.

Periodic status reports are produced that provide information about the state-of-the-art, recent results achieved and trends in technology development programmes in Member States. These status reports help Member States considering implementation of nuclear power programmes, as well as those with existing programmes, to maintain current awareness of advances in technology development throughout the world.

The Section conducts two sub-programmes (A.3 and A.4) consisting of six projects, as listed in the IAEA’s 2004 - 2005 Programme and Budget:

A.3 Co-ordination of International Collaboration for the Development of Innovative Nuclear Technology

A.3.1. Co-ordination of Agency activities for innovative nuclear technology

A.3.2. Co-ordination of international collaborative R&D for innovative nuclear technology

A.4 Technology Developments and Applications for Advanced Reactors

A.4.1. Technology advances in water cooled reactors for improvement in economics and safety

A.4.2. Technology advances in fast reactors and accelerator driven systems (ADS)

A.4.3. Technology advances for gas cooled reactors

A.4.4. Support for demonstration of nuclear seawater desalination