Reducing industrial carbon emissions is one of the most difficult challenges on the path to net zero by 2050, due to the magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector and technological and market constraints. High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) are one of the Generation IV nuclear technologies that can provide heat in excess of 700 °C and have the potential to replace fossil fuels in industrial heat applications.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) hosted a virtual expert roundtable on 16 June 2022 to present and discuss key findings from the new report High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactors and Industrial Heat Applications. The report outlines the technical features and development status of HTGRs as a low-carbon heat source, and presents insights on opportunities, limitations and challenges of HTGRs for industrial heat applications.

Event recording

Presentation of key findings

• Hiroyuki Goto, Nuclear Energy Analyst, NEA

Roundtable discussion

Moderator: Lena Andriolo, President of International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC)

• Aurora J. E. Young, Senior Engineer, Strategic Technologies, Cenovus Energy
• Hiroyuki Sato, General Manager, Department of Hydrogen and Heat Application Research and Development, HTGR Research and Development Centre, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
• Michael Fütterer, Senior Expert at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, former Chair of VHTR System Steering Committee in the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), and member of the European Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative (NC2I)

Conclusion

• Diane Cameron, Head of the NEA Division of Nuclear Technology Development and Economics