RoPower Nuclear, the project company in charge of the construction and commissioning of the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project at Doicesti, has signed a contract with Studsvik Scandpower, one of the global leaders in nuclear fuel analysis software.

'Nuclear calculation codes are primarily used to simulate and analyse nuclear fuel and reactor safety. We sought an established solution on the market, offered by a company with proven experience in projects applicable to nuclear power plants using the pressurised water reactor (PWR) principle. Studsvik Scandpower met our expectations precisely. The SMR plant at Doicesti will largely operate on the same technological principles as over 300 other nuclear plants worldwide, with the addition of new safety systems to ensure a high level of nuclear security and economic efficiency. It's important to note that SMR technology is not entirely new, especially regarding the use of nuclear fuel. It's a proven technology, backed by nearly half a century of operational experience. That's why we are working with teams and companies with impeccable reputations in the nuclear area, such as Studsvik Scandpower,' RoPower Nuclear Technical Director Dan Serbanescu is quoted as saying in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday.

The Swedish company is part of the Studsvik AB group, founded in 1947 for the development of nuclear facilities.

Studsvik Scandpower Group President Art Wharton said the company is proud to contribute their already-proven software tools to this innovative project, adding that Romania is setting a precedent for the next generation of nuclear energy, also mentioning the group he represents is honoured to be part of this effort.

The Doicesti SMR project is currently in its second phase of design, engineering, and planning (FEED 2), with the main contractor being the American company Fluor Corporation. The final investment decision is expected in 2026.

RoPower Nuclear is the project company dedicated to developing Romania's first small modular reactor (SMR) power plant, located in Doicesti, Dambovita County. Established in 2022, the company is equally owned by Nuclearelectrica S.A. and Nova Power & Gas, part of the E-Infra group. RoPower Nuclear also collaborates with prestigious international partners such as NuScale Power, Fluor Corporation and Samsung C&T for the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phases of the project.

The Doicesti project involves the construction of a modular nuclear plant with an installed capacity of 462 MWe, on the site of the former coal-fired power plant in the locality.

The new plant will use NuScale Power technology, with six small modular reactors, each with an installed capacity of 77 MW.

According to the release, the energy produced by the Doicesti plant will contribute to the green transition while maintaining the stability of the National Energy System through a unique mix of zero CO2 emissions and baseload power generation, unaffected by weather conditions or time of day. Together with local renewable energy sources, it can form a hybrid energy platform that supports economic and social development. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)