PhD Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Energy Security - Trade-Offs and Societal Implications

PhD Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Energy Security - Trade-Offs and Societal Implications

Small Modular Reactors (SMR) are receiving increasing political attention. We compare SMRs based on their contribution to energy security, while focuing on their sociatel and ethical implications.

Job description

Nuclear energy is receiving renewed attention in Europe. An interesting aspect of this discussion is the focus on the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are advanced nuclear reactors with a capacity of up to 300 MW(e) and several important features. First, given their specific design, they are suitable for locations generally unsuitable for larger reactors. Moreover, some SMRs feature improved passive or inherent safety systems that significantly reduce the potential for the unsafe release of radioactivity in an accident. Depending on the type, some SMRs can provide both electricity and heat, as well as steam, for industrial applications. Finally, SMRs (particularly the smaller microreactors up to 10 MW(e)) could be connected off-grid and provide for electricity in remote areas not connected to the grid, for desalination or in high-consumption areas. They can also help address grid congestion in industrialized countries (such as the Netherlands), where increasing electrification continues to put pressure on the network’s transport capacity, leading to congestion.

What is often overlooked in major – and hasty - political shifts is the broader implication about nuclear reactor technologies, fuel cycles, and waste management. More specifically, with SMRs, it is important to properly distinguish between different reactor types, their promises, time-to-deployment, fuel cycles, waste streams, safety cases, etc.

In this research, we follow a Values-based approach to compare different types of SMRs based on their contribution to Energy Security, but also what that means for the values Safety, Security, Economic Durability, Sustainability, and Justice. Building on an approach used by the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure (RLI 2022) and earlier work at TU Delft (Taebi and Kloosterman 2008, 2015), we will assess SMRs based on their contribution to Energy Security. We will at least focus on the SMRs that the Dutch Regulatory Body for Nuclear Safety (in Dutch: ANVS) is considering.

The overall project aim is to identify and explicate important values for the comparison of different SMRs and to propose policy recommendations based on the contribution of each SMR to Energy Security.

This PhD position is part of the interdisciplinary Climate Safety & Security centre (CaSS) at TU Delft | Campus The Hague. This center conducts research on fair access to fundamental human needs - water, food and energy - and their crucial enablers: infrastructures and materials. Our goal is to contribute to a safe and secure future society by connecting insights from engineering, design and governance. The PhD-student will contribute to the Energy Security flagship within CaSS. The successful candidate will work 1 day/week at TU Delft | Campus The Hague and will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers from across TU Delft, as well as policy makers from (national) governments and (inter)national organisations in The Hague and beyond.

The PhD student will be hosted by the Department of Values, Technology and Innovation (VTI), in the Section of Ethics and Philosophy of Technology (TPM). The project is a collaboration with the department Process and Energy (P&E) and the Section of Energy Technology (ME). VTI is among the world-leading groups working on and innovating value-based design approaches. The department of Process and Energy is well-known for its research and development in energy engineering, such as high temperature heat pumps, electrochemical conversion, and advanced power cycles. Recently, P&E received a subsidy from the ministry of climate and green growth (KGG) to perform R&D focussing on development of new nuclear popower plant designs and their integration into the Dutch energy system.

Supervisory team

Behnam Taebi, Jurriaan Peeters & James Hutton.

Job requirements

Ideal candidate has a solid engineering background and additional knowledge and expertise in social sciences or humanities.

• MSc in engineering with a proper understanding of broad engineering issues.
• Affinity with ethics and moral philosophy (highly recommended but not required).
• Good communication and presentation skills in English.
• Recommended but not required: good communication and presentation skills in Dutch.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty Technology, Policy & Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest.