Technical Meeting on Good Practices in and Lessons Learned from the Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

Background

Currently, over 260 GW(e) or 66% of operating nuclear capacity (293 of 440 reactors) is over 30 years old, and about 30% of reactors worldwide are already operating under Long Term Operation (LTO) conditions. To achieve the Net Zero Emission by 2050 goal and ensure energy security under the complicated geopolitical situation, LTO has become the prioritized option for more and more Member States (MS).

Diverse support mechanisms were used and through 2019 included the IAEA Technical Working Group on Life Management of Nuclear Power Plants. As an evolutionary step to continue the support, the IAEA officially launched the International Network on Life Management of Nuclear Power Plants (LMNPP Network) on the Technical Meeting (TM) on LMNPP Network in November 2022. The LMNPP Network has been established on the IAEA CONNECT platform to promote international cooperation, to increase efficiency in sharing international experience in life management of nuclear power plants, and to provide for various project-based Working Groups (WGs) to be formed to further support MS long term operation efforts and knowledge transfer.

At the aforementioned TM, participants welcomed and appreciated the new initiative from the IAEA. The overarching strategy of the LMNPP Network was discussed. It was also concluded that the LMNPP Network should have a Steering Committee (SC) made up of technical experts to provide direction on the operation of the Network and guidance on the potential projects and working groups under its umbrella. Please find a list of proposed working groups as below.  

After the TM, the IAEA informally requested nominations for SC members from MS. The nominees should be senior experts from the MS in relevant areas. They ought to have extensive connections with national technical communities. Nominating more than one expert to the SC is possible. But in this case, a lead should be designated. Nominations from 19 MS and international organizations have been received so far. More are expected.

Since the launch of the LMNPP Network, many activities are being carried out under its umbrella. For example, a cooperative event between IAEA and MS was held and an expert Mission to directly support MS in relevant areas was organized. In addition, operating experience from LTO started being shared in the members’ area on the LMNPP Network. Furthermore, some WGs have made great progress, with WG 1 focusing on the Good Practice and Lessons Learned from LTO of Nuclear Power Plants.

It is important to collect operating experience from LTO. Such experience would be valuable information for a broad range of MS; including those that recently started considering LTO to those now applying to licence a reactor out to as long as 80 years. It’s very useful to share the challenges and issues in material degradation, licensing process, equipment reliability and technical support, and to identify the research needs.

To address the issue, an IAEA Nuclear Energy Series document on Good Practices and Lessons Learned from Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants was proposed in 2022. The topic is in line with the WG1.So far, two Consultancy Meetings (CMs) were held, 13 country reports were collected, and the preliminary draft of the IAEA NE Series document is ready for review and awaiting wider feedback from MS.

Objectives

The purpose of the event is to provide an international forum for sharing good practices and lessons learned from Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants. The event also provides an opportunity to review a draft publication provisionally entitled Good Practices and Lessons Learned from the Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants. The meeting has the following primary objectives:

• To welcome presentations and discussions on Good Practices and Lessons Learned from the Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants. The following list provides examples of presentation topics that would be appropriate for the event:
  • Innovative solutions to address technical issues for LTO of NPPs (AI, Machine Learning, etc.)
  • Preparation for LTO beyond 60 years, especially the R&D needs, licensing process, major refurbishment projects in NPPs to be planned for LTO, etc.;
  • Ongoing or Planned R&D activities for LTO;
  • Risk-informed Approach in Ageing Management Program and LTO Decision;
  • Implementation of Equipment Reliability Program in Nuclear Power Plants for LTO;
  • Environmental impacts to Life Management of Nuclear Power Plants;
  • Equipment Survivability for Beyond Design Basis Accident in Nuclear Power Plants;
• To review the draft of publication and discuss the resolution;
• To collect and discuss the results of the survey on Questionnaires for Survey on Research activities and needs for Long Term Operation (LTO) of NPPs;

At parallel, the First SC meeting of LMNPP Network will be held with the following objectives:

• To announce the establishment of the SC of LMNPP Network;
• To nominate the Chair of the SC;
• To review and approve the Terms of Reference of the LMNPP Network, including the overarching strategies of the LMNPP Network;
• To discuss the proposed WGs’ progress, define or validate the scope, to recommend their external moderators;
• To discuss optimization of the LMNPP Network, including the website for improvement;
• To provide proposals and recommendations on the Agency's activities and forward programmes in the areas.

Topics

Besides from reviewing the draft publication and establishing the first steering committee of LMNPP Network, presentations are also invited from Member States and International Organizations. Please refer to “Objectives” for examples of topics.  

Venue

The event will be held at Hilton Gyeongju, 484-7 Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Participants must make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

Key Deadlines

15 September 2023: The application for financial support should be made using the Grant Application Form (Form C), which has to be stamped, signed and submitted by the competent national authority to the IAEA together with the Participation Form (Form A).