The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have today announced that they are progressing to the next phase of their assessment of Holtec International’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design.
The Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process allows the regulators to begin assessing the safety, security, safeguards and environmental aspects of new reactor designs before site-specific proposals are brought forward.
Step 1 of the GDA began in October 2023 and focused on agreeing the scope and schedule for Step 2, and this stage has now been successfully completed.Today marks the start of the fundamental assessment of the design (Step 2) which is expected to last for 14 months.
Agreeing the scope of the GDA throughout Step 1 has been based on information supplied by Holtec to the regulators so they can undertake a meaningful assessment of the design.
Holtec has completed all the requirements for Step 1 from the regulators' guidance with good progress made in developing its organisation and arrangements to support GDA.
Holtec has now launched a comments process on its new website, which enables anyone to submit comments and questions about the reactor design to the company for its response.
Relevant issues raised during the comments process, and Holtec’s responses to these issues, will be used to help inform the regulators’ assessments throughout the rest of the GDA process.
Tim Parkes, ONR's Head of Safety Regulation for Advanced Nuclear Technologies and the Holtec SMR-300 GDA, said: "GDA is a vital part of ensuring new reactor designs meet the high standards of safety, security and environmental protection required in Great Britain.
“Together with the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, we have seen Holtec demonstrate readiness to move into Step 2 of the assessment where we can begin the technical assessments of the reactor.
“Throughout Step 1 Holtec has been mobilising its delivery organisation to complete the GDA and we have been agreeing the scope for our assessment in Step 2.
“We have improved our understanding of the generic SMR-300 design which will enable us to conduct a meaningful assessment throughout Step 2.
“Safety and security will always be our overriding priority, but we are committed to regulating in a way that does not impede technological advancements unless it is fully justified that we do so.
“We will continue to engage with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission about potential collaboration and information exchange on the review and assessment of the SMR-300 design.”
Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency’s New Reactors Programme Manager said: “We’re assessing the environmental acceptability of a new Small Modular Reactor design from Holtec International based in the US, working with Holtec Britain which is managing the delivery of the GDA in the UK. Holtec Britain has worked hard to grow the company sufficiently to be able to effectively manage and deliver the project.
“During the next step, our team of specialist assessors will identify any issues or concerns we have with the design and will work with the company to make sure it understands our expectations to ensure the protection of communities and the environment.
“During Step 1 we’ve reviewed the company’s arrangements, plans and readiness for Step 2 and learnt more about the reactor design. In our Step 1 statement we’ve summarised what we have looked at and concluded that we can progress to Step 2 of GDA where we will begin our fundamental assessment. We have also agreed the GDA scope and we are satisfied that all of the main systems from an environmental and waste management perspective are included within the assessment scope.
“We’re committed to transparency and working with others. Public and stakeholder engagement is important to us. This is a 2-Step GDA which won’t include a public consultation, so it’s even more important for people to get involved in the comments process, which begins today. You can review the information on the company’s website and provide your comments which are viewed by the regulators.”
Natural Resources Wales is also involved in the GDA process where there is a possibility the reactor design could be deployed in Wales, and will be leading on engagement with stakeholders in Wales.
Paul Gibson, the Radioactivity & Industry Policy Team Leader from Natural Resources Wales, said: “We have been working closely with the Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation on the Generic Design Assessment for the Holtec International SMR-300.
“As we have now reached the end of Step 1, we will continue working closely with our partners as the project progresses to fundamental assessment of the design in Step 2.”
The GDA process focuses on the design of a generic nuclear power station and is not site-specific. It is a voluntary, non-mandatory process aimed at providing early confidence that a proposed reactor design is capable of being constructed, operated and decommissioned in accordance with the high standards of safety, security, environmental protection and waste management in Great Britain.
GDA is a flexible process with up to three steps. The assessment becomes increasingly detailed with each step.
A Design Acceptance Confirmation (DAC) or Statement of Design Acceptability (SoDA), from ONR and the environmental regulators respectively, is issued at the end of a three-step GDA when the design meets the high safety, security, safeguards, environmental protection and waste management standards expected by our regulatory frameworks.
As Holtec is undergoing a two-step GDA for its SMR-300 design, no DAC or SoDA will be issued and our assessment will stop at the end of Step 2. At the end of Step 2 the regulators will issue a GDA Statement, indicating their level of confidence in whether the SMR-300 design can potentially be built, operated and decommissioned in Great Britain in a manner that is safe and secure.
This GDA is the first that is planned to finish at the end of Step 2. Should the company wish to continue its plans to build a small modular reactor in England or Wales, a further period of detailed design assessment will be carried out by the regulators, either as part of a future Step 3 or as part of a site-specific development.
For more information, please read ONR’s end of Step 1 statement and the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) joint end of Step 1 statement.
You can also visit the Holtec SMR-300 website.
This news release is also available in Welsh.
Adweithydd Modiwlaidd Bach Holtec International yn cwblhau cam cyntaf yr asesiad dylunio
Mae dyluniad Adweithydd Modiwlaidd Bach SMR-300 Holtec International wedi cwblhau Cam 1 yr Asesiad Dyluniad Generig.
Mae’r Swyddfa Reoleiddio Niwclear (yr ONR), Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd a Chyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC) wedi cyhoeddi heddiw eu bod yn symud ymlaen i gam nesaf eu hasesiad o ddyluniad Adweithydd Modiwlaidd Bach (SMR) Holtec International.
Mae'r broses, a elwir yn Asesiad Dyluniad Generig (GDA, sef Generic Design Assessment), yn galluogi'r rheoleiddwyr i ddechrau asesu agweddau diogelwch ac amgylcheddol ar ddyluniadau adweithyddion newydd cyn i gynigion safle-benodol gael eu cyflwyno.
Dechreuodd Cam 1 y GDA ym mis Hydref 2023 gan ganolbwyntio ar gytuno ar gwmpas ac amserlen Cam 2, ac mae’r cam hwn bellach wedi’i gwblhau’n llwyddiannus. Mae heddiw yn nodi dechrau’r asesiad sylfaenol o’r dyluniad (Cam 2) y disgwylir iddo bara am 14 mis.
Mae cytuno ar gwmpas y GDA drwy gydol Cam 1 wedi’i seilio ar wybodaeth a ddarparwyd gan Holtec i’r rheolyddion fel y gallant gynnal asesiad ystyrlon o’r dyluniad.
Mae Holtec wedi cwblhau'r holl ofynion ar gyfer Cam 1 o ganllawiau'r rheolyddion, a gwnaed cynnydd da wrth ddatblygu ei drefniadaeth a threfniadau i gefnogi’r GDA.
Mae Holtec bellach wedi lansio proses sylwadau ar ei wefan newydd, sy'n galluogi unrhyw un i gyflwyno sylwadau a chwestiynau am ddyluniad yr adweithydd i'r cwmni i gael ei ymateb. Bydd materion perthnasol a godwyd yn ystod y broses sylwadau, ac ymatebion Holtec i’r materion hyn, yn cael eu defnyddio i helpu i lywio asesiadau’r rheoleiddwyr drwy weddill y broses GDA.
Dywedodd Tim Parkes, Pennaeth Rheoleiddio Diogelwch yr ONR ar gyfer Uwch-dechnolegau Niwclear a GDA’r Holtec SMR-300:
“Mae’r GDA yn rhan hanfodol o sicrhau bod cynlluniau adweithyddion newydd yn bodloni’r safonau uchel o ddiogelwch, diogeledd a gwarchodaeth amgylcheddol sy’n ofynnol ym Mhrydain Fawr.
“Ynghyd ag Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd a Chyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, rydym wedi gweld Holtec yn dangos parodrwydd i symud i Gam 2 o’r asesiad lle gallwn ddechrau’r asesiadau technegol o’r adweithydd.
“Trwy gydol Cam 1 mae Holtec wedi bod yn ymbaratoi’n drefniadol i gwblhau’r GDA ac rydym wedi bod yn cytuno ar y cwmpas ar gyfer ein hasesiad yng Ngham 2.
“Rydym wedi gwella ein dealltwriaeth o ddyluniad generig SMR-300 a fydd yn ein galluogi i gynnal asesiad ystyrlon trwy gydol Cam 2.
“Diogelwch fydd ein prif flaenoriaeth bob amser, ond rydym wedi ymrwymo i reoleiddio mewn ffordd nad yw’n rhwystro datblygiadau technolegol - oni bai bod cyfiawnhad llawn i ni wneud hynny.
“Byddwn yn parhau i ymgysylltu â Chomisiwn Rheoleiddio Niwclear yr Unol Daleithiau ynghylch cydweithredu posibl a chyfnewid gwybodaeth ar adolygu ac asesu dyluniad SMR-300.”
Dywedodd Saffron Price-Finnerty, Rheolwr Rhaglen Adweithyddion Newydd Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd:
“Rydym yn asesu pa mor dderbyniol yn amgylcheddol yw dyluniad Adweithydd Modiwlaidd Bach newydd Holtec International, cwmni sydd wedi'i leoli yn yr Unol Daleithiau, gan weithio gyda Holtec Britain sy'n rheoli'r broses o gyflawni'r GDA yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae Holtec Britain wedi gweithio'n galed i dyfu'r cwmni'n ddigonol i allu rheoli a chyflawni'r prosiect yn effeithiol.
“Yn y cam nesaf, bydd ein tîm o aseswyr arbenigol yn nodi unrhyw faterion neu bryderon sydd gennym gyda'r dyluniad, a byddant yn gweithio gyda'r cwmni i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn deall ein disgwyliadau i sicrhau bod cymunedau a'r amgylchedd yn cael eu diogelu.
“Yn ystod Cam 1, rydym wedi astudio trefniadau, cynlluniau a pharodrwydd y cwmni ar gyfer Cam 2 ac wedi dysgu mwy am ddyluniad yr adweithydd. Yn ein datganiad Cam 1 rydym wedi crynhoi’r hyn rydym wedi edrych arno ac wedi dod i’r casgliad y gallwn symud ymlaen i Gam 2 y GDA, lle byddwn yn dechrau ein hasesiad sylfaenol. Rydym hefyd wedi cytuno ar gwmpas y GDA ac rydym yn fodlon bod pob un o'r prif systemau o safbwynt amgylcheddol a rheoli gwastraff wedi'u cynnwys o fewn cwmpas yr asesiad.
“Rydym wedi ymrwymo i dryloywder a gweithio gydag eraill. “Mae ymgysylltu â’r cyhoedd a rhanddeiliaid yn bwysig i ni. Dau gam sydd i’r GDA hwn - nid yw’r amserlen yn cynnwys ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus, felly mae'n bwysicach fyth i bobl gymryd rhan yn y broses sylwadau, sy'n dechrau heddiw.
“Gallwch adolygu’r wybodaeth ar wefan y cwmni a rhoi eich sylwadau - sy’n cael eu gweld gan y rheoleiddwyr.”
Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru hefyd yn rhan o’r broses GDA pan fo posibilrwydd y gellid defnyddio’r adweithydd dan sylw yng Nghymru a bydd yn arwain ar ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid yng Nghymru.
Dywedodd Paul Gibson, Arweinydd Tîm Polisi Ymbelydredd a Diwydiant Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru:
“Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio’n agos gydag Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd a’r Swyddfa Reoleiddio Niwclear ar yr Asesiad Dyluniad Generig ar gyfer yr Holtec International SMR-300.
“Gan ein bod bellach wedi cyrraedd diwedd Cam 1, byddwn yn parhau i weithio’n agos gyda’n partneriaid wrth i’r prosiect symud ymlaen i asesiad sylfaenol o’r dyluniad yng Ngham 2.”
Mae proses y GDA yn canolbwyntio ar ddyluniad gorsaf ynni niwclear generig ac nid yw'n benodol i safle. Mae'n broses wirfoddol, nad yw'n orfodol, gyda'r nod o roi hyder cynnar y gellir adeiladu, gweithredu a datgomisiynu dyluniad adweithydd arfaethedig yn unol â’r safonau uchel o ran diogelwch, gwarchod yr amgylchedd a rheoli gwastraff sy’n weithredol ym Mhrydain Fawr.
Mae’r GDA yn broses hyblyg gyda hyd at dri cham. Daw'r asesiad yn fwyfwy manwl gyda phob cam.
Bydd Cadarnhad o Dderbyn Dyluniad (DAC, sef Design Acceptance Confirmation) neu Ddatganiad o Dderbynioldeb Dyluniad (SoDA, sef Statement of Design Acceptability) gan yr ONR a'r rheoleiddwyr amgylcheddol, yn y drefn honno, yn cael eu cyhoeddi ar ddiwedd Cam 3 o'r GDA, a hynny os yw'r dyluniad yn bodloni'r mesurau diogelwch cadarn a’r safonau uchel o ran diogelu’r amgylchedd a rheoli gwastraff a ddisgwylir gan ein fframweithiau rheoleiddio.
Gan fod Holtec yn destun GDA dau gam ar gyfer ei ddyluniad SMR-300, ni fydd DAC na SoDA yn cael eu cyhoeddi, a bydd ein hasesiad yn dod i ben ar ddiwedd Cam 2. Wedyn ar ddiwedd Cam 2 bydd y rheoleiddwyr yn cyhoeddi Datganiad GDA, yn nodi lefel eu hyder o ran a ellir adeiladu, gweithredu a datgomisiynu’r dyluniad SMR-300 ym Mhrydain Fawr mewn modd sy’n ddiogel ac yn amddiffyn pobl a’r Amgylchedd.
Y GDA hwn yw’r cyntaf i orffen ar ddiwedd Cam 2. Pe bai’r cwmni’n dymuno parhau â’i gynlluniau i adeiladu adweithydd modiwlaidd bach yng Nghymru neu Loegr, bydd cyfnod pellach o asesiad dylunio manwl yn cael ei gynnal gan y rheoleiddwyr, naill ai fel rhan o Gam 3 yn y dyfodol neu fel rhan o ddatblygiad safle-benodol.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, darllenwch Ddatganiad Diwedd Cam 1.
Gallwch hefyd ymweld â gwefan Holtec SMR-300.