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Issue 5-2025

The role of nuclear energy in future energy supply systems

Borja Rosell Herrera

Different paths are being taken worldwide regarding the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation. Several countries are planning to follow the phase-out implemented in Germany last year in the short or medium term. In Europe, these are currently Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain. Globally, however, more than 40 countries around the world are currently planning to expand the role of nuclear energy in their energy supply systems.

According to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global interest in nuclear energy is at its strongest since the oil crisis of the 1970s.

In total, the world’s fleet of almost 420 nuclear reactors currently contributes almost 10 percent to the global electricity supply and is the second largest source of low-emission energy after hydropower. Although some countries have shut down their nuclear power plants or decided to phase out nuclear energy, electricity generation from nuclear power plants continues to grow globally, particularly in Asia.

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OT Security in the field: NIDS and SOC work hand-in-hand in critical infrastructure

Frank Stummer and André Greune

The threat of cyberattacks on industrial networks is often underestimated – not least because of retrospective statistics that show only a few known incidents with physical impact (yet). However, there is considerable potential for disruption: an increasing number of vulnerability disclosures, highly developed malware specifically designed for OT and a rise in state-sponsored prepositioning campaigns illustrate the growing threat to critical infrastructure. At the same time, many OT networks lack basic visibility into assets, communication patterns and vulnerabilities. The results of OT vulnerability assessments reveal serious security gaps, ranging from outdated protocols to insecure authentication methods. To do justice to the dynamic threat situation, a strategically integrated OT security architecture is essential – with the goal of implementing cybersecurity in a simple, comprehensive and legally compliant manner.

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Modelling and validation of excitation systems for higher frequencies

Rüdiger Kutzner, Eric Daube, Achim Degenhardt, Andreas Schmid, Uwe Seeger and Martin Bennauer

As we move toward green energy, new challenges are emerging – like the increasing use of inverter-based technologies and long-distance power transmission using high-voltage direct current. These changes raise questions about how power plants will be affected. So far, stability studies by grid operators have mainly focused on stability issues of oscillations up to 3 Hz. This paper explains how key parts of a power plant’s control system, like the excitation control system with a power system stabilizer, can be modelled for higher frequencies. It also points out where the commonly used IEEE Standard 421.5 models may not be sufficient and suggests improvements for more accurate results.

Out to the wind farm by airmail

Marcus A. Ihle

Offshore wind energy plays an important role in ramping up electricity generation from renewable sources. Both the German government and the European Union are pursuing ambitious expansion targets. For this reason, the energy industry will invest billions in new offshore wind farms in the coming years. In order to keep costs under control, the control of operating costs is of great importance. A large part of this is due to the logistics involved in transporting people and materials to offshore wind farms, often over distances of more than 100 kilometers. The use of fully automated drones could drastically reduce these costs. The first companies are already testing the transport of heavy loads by drone at sea. The joint project ‘Upcoming Drones Windfarm’ (UDW) has set itself the goal of clarifying the conditions under which the use of cargo drones is worthwhile for wind farm operators.

Experience with the replacement of a 600 MW generator stator center section

Thomas Sommerey

With the increasing development of renewable energy sources and the associated expansion and conversion of the transmission networks, operators of conventional power plants are faced with the question of measures to extend the life of existing plants, which will continue to be used in the medium term as a bridging technology to secure the supply of electricity for the entire generation portfolio. In this context, the article describes the technical challenges, implementation planning and execution of the replacement of a 600 MW generator stator mid-section as a replacement for the original component, which had reached the end of its lifetime.

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Opening the black box – Modern AI approaches in the nuclear industry

Thomas Kopinski and Rafael Kaufmann

We are at a special point in AI history where we are seeing more and more milestones being reached by AI in an ever shorter time. This exponential development, in terms of the potential of AI systems, goes hand in hand with an ever-increasing hunger for data and energy, so that the nuclear industry has a special role to play here: on the one hand, it is seen as a partial solution for energy requirements, while on the other hand, it is asking itself how artificial intelligence can add value to its own processes. It often helps to take a look at the available data, as this is central to all AI approaches, however it might not always be available in sufficient quantity and quality. This is why people are interested in forward-looking AI directions: Neurosymbolic AI promises to produce better results with far less data requirements in some cases, while also shedding light on closed, non-transparent AI models – a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and persistent challenges

Naima Amrani and Akira Tokuhiro

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are gaining attention as a solution to global energy challenges, offering a low-carbon alternative for electricity generation and supporting sustainable development. SMRs are particularly valuable in remote, fossil fuel-dependent regions or industries with high electricity and heating demands. However, large-scale SMR deployment presents challenges, such as investment economics, workforce capacity, and geopolitical concerns. This paper explores these issues and the potential scenarios for SMR deployment, evaluating the sustainability of such projects. It identifies trade-offs, synergies, and gaps, while addressing policy considerations like international regulations, financing, technology development, and stakeholder engagement. The paper also highlights international collaborations that aim to address sustainability concerns related to SMRs, underscoring the need for coordinated global efforts.

Nuclear power plants worldwide: Compact statistics 2024

Editorial

At the end of 2024, 418 nuclear power plants were in operation in 32 countries worldwide. This represents an increase of 4 compared to the previous year‘s figure. Six nuclear power plant units started operation for the first time, 2 resumed operation after a prolonged shutdown, and 4 units were decommissioned. The installed and available nuclear power capacity was 402 GWe gross and 379 GWe net. Nine new nuclear power plant projects were started. Fiftynine plants with a total capacity of 66 GWe gross and 62 GWe net were under construction in 16 countries. In addition, around 200 nuclear power plant units are in the planning stage in 30 countries worldwide.

Energy from waste

Greg Kelsall

Growing global population, urbanisation and increasing economic growth mean that the amount of waste produced by human activities is increasing. The quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW) already exceeds 2.1 Gt/y and in the absence of measures to reduce waste production, this could increase by around 60–80 % to 3.4–3.8 Gt by 2050. In order to deal with this growing waste problem, the waste management hierarchy has been devised to rank options according to what is best for the environment. Energy from waste (EfW) is a key part of this waste management, reducing the proportion of the residual waste that would otherwise be sent to landfill. This report assesses the role of EfW within an overall waste systems approach to achieve net zero emissions (NZE). This includes the opportunity for the application of carbon capture to EfW plant to achieve net negative emissions as a large-scale greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technology.

Potential implications of tariff escalations for gas markets

GEFC Gas Exporting Countries Forum

The recent dramatic shift in US tariff policy has led to heightened global economic volatility and uncertainty, affecting a wide range of sectors, including energy and gas markets. The escalation of US tariffs, as initially announced, along with retaliatory measures from key trading partners, are expected to suppress global trade flows and contribute to a broader deceleration in economic activity. Gas markets have been affected by tariff policy escalations, both directly and indirectly, resulting in the rerouting of LNG cargoes, shifts in trade dynamics, and heightened uncertainty surrounding long-term investment decisions.

Editorial

Borja Rosell Herrera

Technical Services Director
Centrales Nucleares Almaraz Trillo
Head of the vgbe Steering Forum Operation Nuclear Power Plants
Madrid, Spanien

The role of nuclear energy in future energy supply systems

Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,

Different paths are being taken worldwide regarding the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation. Several countries are planning to follow the phase-out implemented in Germany last year in the short or medium term. In Europe, these are currently Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain. Globally, however, more than 40 countries around the world are currently planning to expand the role of nuclear energy in their energy supply systems.

According to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global interest in nuclear energy is at its strongest since the oil crisis of the 1970s.

In total, the world’s fleet of almost 420 nuclear reactors currently contributes almost 10 percent to the global electricity supply and is the second largest source of low-emission energy after hydropower. Although some countries have shut down their nuclear power plants or decided to phase out nuclear energy, electricity generation from nuclear power plants continues to grow globally, particularly in Asia.

But even in Europe, nuclear energy has undergone a partial reassessment in light of climate change and against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. For example, the EU Commission established standards for ecological management with the Taxonomy framework. Nuclear energy was classified as sustainable in 2022, which encouraged investments in the continued operation and construction of new nuclear power plants.

For Europe to achieve its climate goals, it is becoming increasingly clear that nuclear energy must play a major role in the global energy system if we are to achieve the ambitious climate targets we have set ourselves.

In addition to climate change, the growing demand for electricity also plays a key role – a trend that is further exacerbated by the increasing electrification of various sectors. This increase is due not only to traditional sectors such as industry, but also to increased demand in areas such as electric cars, data centers, and the use of artificial intelligence, all of which require significant amounts of electricity.

Hopes are also being placed in some new and exciting developments in nuclear technology – small modular reactors (SMRs) are being considered as a new branch of the industry. These miniature nuclear power plants are expected to play an important role in the medium-term planning of low-carbon, decentralized electricity production in several countries. Currently, more than 80 SMR projects are in various stages of development. Several countries in Europe have also expressed interest. The prospects for SMRs are therefore certainly interesting, as they are also well suited for heat generation for district heating and industrial processes.

Another innovative nuclear technology is the use of fusion energy to generate electricity. International cooperation is conducting research into whether and how this project can be realized. However, the first commercially viable reactor is not expected before 2050, as things stand today.

Against the backdrop of these developments, the vgbe will not only focus on the effective dismantling of nuclear power plants, even after Germany’s nuclear phase-out. Rather, an expanded international committee structure was created to continue harnessing the experience and expertise of the association and its international members for the safe operation of nuclear facilities.

One component of this effort is to draw on the experience of German nuclear technology, thus considering not only technical and safety aspects but also issues related to implementation time and cost-effectiveness. An annual “Nuclear Buyers Guide – Germany” will support this in the future, serving as an interface between international operators and the German nuclear industry.

vgbe is also supporting future technologies as part of a research project.