Proposals should address challenges related to ageing management and/or the evaluation of the safety margins of the current and planned reactors fleet. Such challenges relate to a number of points, including the development and validation of methods and tools to increase safety and the availability of systems, as well as structures and components needed for reliable and safe operation and management. Other areas of focus include the ageing of concrete structures, core physics and thermal hydraulics, internal and external hazards (e.g. fires and explosions phenomena), inspections, condition and structural health monitoring, digitalisation (including AI), machine learning, the Internet of Things and digital twins, modelling and simulation (e.g. by using a combination of high-performance computing and engineering modelling), as well as prevention and mitigation strategies for intended LTO.

Adequate safety margins, the early detection of degradation and the prevention of failures in pressure boundary components are of high priority in order to ensure the important third physical barrier in light water reactors. During the long operating life of nuclear power plants (40 to 80 years), their steel pressure boundary components are subject to threats from non-linear processes such as ageing, different degradation mechanisms and load history effects. This highlights the importance of research activities (including experimental efforts in ensuring the proper analysis of damage tolerance, degradation, improvement of replaceable components by material and fuel development, loads and safety margins) as well as the development of appropriate programmes for inspections, repairs, component replacement (including advanced manufacturing technologies for producing these components) and continuous tailored alignment with safety regulatory standards (even those resulting from climate change).

The scope of this topic also includes the safety of alternative nuclear fuel in cases where security of the fuel supply is under threat (e.g. Soviet-designed research reactors).

Where appropriate, the Commission recommends that consortia should use the JRC’s services. The JRC may participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal. It would bear the operational costs for its own staff as well as research infrastructure operational costs. The JRC’s facilities and expertise are listed in General Annex H to this work programme.