Over the past years, an increasing number of EU member states have expressed great interest in the development and deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) with a view to reduce their future CO2-emissions, in some cases including the allocation of specific programmes and budgets and even concrete plans for SMR build. To facilitate and accelerate the development, demonstration, and deployment of the first SMRs projects in Europe in the early 2030s, the European Commission has recently launched the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors. Open to organizations from the industry but also from the scientific community, the Alliance aims to formulate a strategic action plan and specific technology roadmaps that include the identification of “the most promising, advanced safe and cost-effective SMR technologies eligible for alliance support” and “future needs for research on SMRs and advanced modular reactors (AMRs)”.

As quite a few of its Technical Safety Organizations (TSOs) members will most likely be confronted with the task of performing safety assessments for SMRs, ETSON has decided to become a member of the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors. In doing so, ETSON and its members gain the opportunity to keep track with latest developments regarding SMRs and to provide their input on safety-related matters and linked research aspects and to express its safety concerns if deemed necessary. Thereby ETSON will contribute to the goal of ensuring the highest possible level of safety for the citizens in Europe. 

At the same time, ETSON places utmost importance on maintaining its independence as a network of TSOs supporting their national authorities.