The Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative
The Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), which IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched in 2022, aims to facilitate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactors through a dual-track methodology. The initiative’s Industry Track focuses on standardizing industrial approaches while the Regulatory Track examines how to harmonize regulatory considerations.
The initiative’s Industry Track released its latest working paper last week on aligning in-service inspection codes and standards to boost SMR exports. In-service inspections are essential for keeping plants functional throughout their operational lifetimes by verifying system integrity and minimizing reactor outages. Accounting for these inspections in the design phase and standardizing practices across jurisdictions, where possible, could enable a more standardized SMR fleet and hasten their introduction into more markets.
“Benchmarking supply chain practices with other industries can help speed up advanced reactor deployments going forward,” said Jeremy Hubert, Chair of the Working Group on Supply Chain at the Nuclear Energy Agency. “Regulators are doing their part, but we need more effective collaboration. Full, industry-wide cooperation is needed to optimize the supply chain.”