Will there be another nuclear reactor in the Noordkop in addition to the one in Petten? Last month, during an information evening in the Den Helder city council, it became clear that there are exploratory discussions with a major supplier of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Den Helder has the ambition to be energy neutral by 2040, so the municipality is investigating whether the arrival of a nuclear reactor could be the solution for this.
“It is true that Den Helder has been approached by a party that wants to explore together with Den Helder whether there are possibilities to realize something like this in Den Helder,” D66 councilor Peter van Diepen said last month about the plans for a nuclear reactor. Which party is involved remains a secret for the time being, but what is clear about the possible arrival of a nuclear reactor is a move NH listed for you.
What is a Small Modular Reactor?
A Small Modular Reactor is a relatively small, modular nuclear reactor of 30 to 300 megawatts. If the plans go ahead, this will be the first SMR in the Netherlands. Electricity production is determined by the power of the power plant. With a bandwidth of 30-300 megawatts, an SMR generates 0.24-2.4 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually.
This type of nuclear reactor is not the same as the one in Petten. There is a mini reactor (< 50 megawatts) in Petten and it is used for research and production of medical isotopes. Medical isotopes, or radionuclides, are radioactive substances used in nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine doctors use them to diagnose and treat various types of diseases, including cancer.
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What kind of space does an SMR occupy and what are possible locations?
An SMR takes up approximately one hectare of land, but the total area will be somewhat larger because a certain safety and preparation zone must be taken into account.
NH asked the municipality which locations are currently in the picture, but they could not answer this before today.
Does it also benefit the residents of the municipality?
The municipality states that the possible arrival of an SMR certainly has advantages in the field of employment and educational opportunities. “It could become attractive for large companies to establish themselves in or around Den Helder,” councilor Van Diepen told the council last month. Noordhollands Dagblad.
An SMR also offers advantages on an economic level. The municipality explains that this nuclear reactor can generate both electricity and heat locally. The electricity can be used
for electrification of industry and the transport sector, but also for hydrogen production or synthetic fuels. The heat can possibly be supplied to the process industry or to heating networks.
In addition, it can lead to lower system costs, contribute to security of supply and reduce dependence on (regional) imports of electricity; This is also because Den Helder has only limited options for the use of large-scale wind energy due to height restrictions.
When will a decision be made and how long will it take before the SMR is in place?
Exploratory discussions are currently being held with the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate, the province of North Holland and a number of renowned research institutes. The council will share the results of the exploration with the municipal council by mid-2024.
If the SMR actually comes to Den Helder, it could still take years before the reactor is actually built. The realization will take at least 5 to 10 years.