Enel and newcleo partner on fourth-generation nuclear technology

Enel Group and technology company newcleo have signed a collaboration agreement to develop newcleo’s fourth-generation nuclear projects.

The agreement will see Enel share expertise and personnel on projects related to advanced nuclear technology. In return, newcleo will secure an option for Enel as first investor in its first nuclear power plant.

“Innovation is crucial to the development of technologies that can secure clean, reliable, affordable energy that is as independent as possible from geopolitical factors. For this reason, we continue to explore any area of the energy spectrum,” said Enel chief executive Francesco Starace.

“We look forward to supporting newcleo in its challenging but promising roadmap to provide zero-emission electricity in a safe, affordable and sustainable way.”

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The first step in newcleo’s delivery plan will be the design and construction of the first-of-a-kind Mini 30MWe LFR (Lead Fast Reactor) to be deployed in France by 2030. This will be followed by a 200MWe commercial unit in the UK.

Ultimately, newcleo is looking to deploy more sustainable reactor technology that reduces volumes of radioactive waste and plutonium, as well as stop the need for further uranium mining.

To this end, the company will directly invest in a MOX (Mixed uranium/plutonium Oxide, manufactured from existing nuclear waste) plant to fuel its reactors.

newcleo plans to establish MOX fuel manufacturing in developed countries to promote using the existing waste from the current nuclear industry as fuel.

Activity is currently underway to obtain the relevant stakeholder authorisations and to evaluate strategic partnerships to execute the strategy.

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Stefano Buono, CEO of newcleo, commented: “newcleo’s fast reactor technology is the necessary step in the nuclear industry to enable multiple recycling of already extracted uranium and a massive reduction in nuclear waste. In addition, the use of lead opens the possibility to safer and cheaper reactor operating.”

Enel Group currently has over 3.3GW of nuclear capacity in Spain, as well as a 33% stake in Slovak company Slovenské elektrárne, which recently connected to the grid the first of two turbine generators of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3.