Challenges
The international community is committed to developing low-carbon energy for use across sectors such as electricity, heating, transportation, and industry. However, existing energy sources that emit low CO2 levels are not yet sufficient to achieve carbon neutrality, representing only 13% of the global energy mix.
Against the backdrop of the energy transition and increasing electricity demand worldwide, SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) and AMRs (Advanced Modular Reactors) provide a concrete solution:
- To replace fossil fuel power plants, which emit high levels of CO2 and are still overused
- To limit investment costs and so facilitate the industrial deployment of nuclear capacity
- To produce low-carbon energy as close as possible to industrial or urban needs (e.g. to replace generators)
- To optimise recycling of nuclear materials
- To contribute to energy independence, particularly for emerging countries
- To support the integration of renewable energies thanks to a base supply of controllable electricity
- To promote nuclear power as a source of electricity and heat production, including hydrogen production
The development of a global SMR/AMR market is a cornerstone challenge for governments and operators seeking to develop and sell this new type of modular reactor.
How to enable technological development and fast-track industrialisation of SMR and AMR:
OUR EXPERTISE
In order to offer more flexibility to the nuclear industry,Assystem has developed engineering, project management and digital services to accelerate the technological development and the industrial deployment of modular reactors, in France and worldwide.
Our teams are already involved in a number of major SMR/AMR programmes, on behalf of both start-ups and nuclear operators : ROLLS ROYCE (SMR), NAAREA (XAMR®), EDF NUWARD (SMR), NEWCLEO (AMR), JIMMY (AMR)...
Assystem acts as enabler and one-stop partner to accelerate technological development and fast-track industrialisation of modular reactors (reactor and cycle). We support technology providers, end-users as well as safety authorities and governments in SMR/AMR programmes.
Thanks to our dual positioning, our customers benefit from:
- Support to SMR/AMR technology development
- Support to SMR/AMR industrial deployment
OUR MAIN OFFERINGS
Support to SMR/AMR technology development :
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Project management
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Licensing
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Optioneering and design
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Digitalisation of business processes
Support to SMR/AMR industrial deployment :
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Consulting / strategy / vendor choice
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Project management
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Owner engineering
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Siting and environmental services
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Location engineering and interfacing
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Construction engineering
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Industrialisation
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Nuclear safety
Learn more about our Engineering, Digital and Project Management activities.