A compact, 30 MW water-cooled nuclear reactor, designed as a small modular unit, may be implemented in a French city to promote clean, sustainable energy production.

The French company, Calogena, is making strides in the nuclear energy sector with its small modular reactor (SMR), CAL30. The reactor is currently in the pre-licensing phase, with the exploration of its possible deployment at a selected area in the Cadarache site under evaluation by the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR).

CAL30 is a pool-type SMR, inspired by the pool-type research reactors that have been in service worldwide for decades. It boasts a thermal power of 30 MW and operates at low pressure (6 bars, or less than a bike tyre) and low temperature (100 °C), ensuring a simple and compact design.

One of the key advantages of CAL30 is its size. The volume of the core is less than one cubic meter, allowing systems and components to be factory-assembled and then transported to the installation site. This makes it shorter and less expensive to build than large power reactors.

Calogena claims that a Calogena module would have a very limited footprint: 3,000 m2 for the land and less than 1,000 m2 for the buildings. This compact design, combined with the direct use of heat and the very limited number of auxiliary systems, makes the concept intrinsically simpler and safer than any conventional reactor, according to Calogena.

The CAL30 SMR is designed to supply urban heating networks with carbon-free energy. Calogena has signed a letter of intent with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) for the exploration of CAL30's possible deployment at the Cadarache site, a technological research and development centre for energy.

Calogena uses the same fuel as conventional reactors, but in a shortened form. This means that refuelling for CAL30 requires just one lorry every two years, compared with dozens every day for a wood-fired solution.

Calogena's aim is for the fastest possible deployment of CAL30, as early as 2030. The French company's ambition is to contribute to France's goal of reducing carbon emissions and providing clean, reliable energy solutions.

However, it's worth noting that the French company involved in the evaluation of the CAL30 SMR by the French nuclear regulatory and safety authority is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results.

As the pre-licensing phase progresses, Calogena continues to work closely with the ASNR and other stakeholders to ensure that CAL30 meets the highest safety and environmental standards. The deployment of CAL30 at the Cadarache site could mark a significant step forward in France's nuclear energy landscape and its commitment to a sustainable energy future.

A compact, 30 MW water-cooled nuclear reactor, designed as a small modular unit, may be implemented in a French city to promote clean, sustainable energy production.