Nuclear
GELINA particle accelerator JRC Geel site (Belgium)
The JRC has over 60 years of experience in nuclear research addressing complex challenges related to energy, health, environment and other key areas, under the Euratom Research and Training programme. Its expertise in the safe and secure use of current nuclear technology is more relevant than ever, as various Member States look at nuclear energy with renewed interest. By developing and implementing effective solutions, the JRC ensures that Europe remains at the forefront of nuclear safety and security, while offering critical support in decommissioning and waste activities, monitoring environmental radiation, or developing radionuclide technologies to contribute to the fight against cancer, and treatment of other severe diseases.
support, as well as technical expertise and Open Access to nuclear infrastructures, to support the development of EU nuclear experts.The JRC offers education and training
The JRC’s Structural Materials Performance Assessment (SMPA) laboratories support nuclear safety by researching and testing materials to predict their lifespan and reliability. A recent collaboration with the Belgium Nuclear Research Centre focused on the inverse estimation of tensile flow curves for reactor pressure vessel steels using the Small Punch Test. This miniature test, now standardised in Europe (EN-10371), has provided valuable insights into the material properties essential for nuclear safety.
The JRC works to continuously improve safety standards while supporting technological innovation related to the safety of reactors, structural materials, fuels and radioactive waste management. JRC research also focuses on the safety of long term operation of existing reactors. The research covers operation as well as accident conditions, and is applied to conventional, evolutionary and advanced systems.
For example, in collaboration with CEA Cadarache, the JRC has been instrumental in improving neutron absorption cross-section measurements, which are critical to the “Burn up credit” (BUC) nuclear safety concept. Burn-up credit is a safety approach that accounts for the reduction in the reactivity of configurations with spent nuclear fuel due to the change in their composition after irradiation. This concept, which ensures accurate knowledge of neutron behaviour for safe nuclear operations, has been at the centre of the JRC’s work at the GELINA laboratory. These collaborations have led to significant advancements in nuclear safety and improved the validation benchmarks for key fission products.
The JRC offers education and training support, as well as technical expertise and Open Access to nuclear infrastructures, to support the development of EU nuclear experts for the present and future. Member States can count on JRC’s experience in support of nuclear workforce national assessments.
Through its actions, the JRC ensures the maintenance of the EU’s leadership in the safety of nuclear technologies, which contributes to the overall autonomy of energy supply.
Looking for hands-on training for first responders who intercept radioactive scrap, illicit trafficking, or operate in potentially contaminated crime scenes? The JRC European Nuclear Security Training Centre (EUSECTRA) provides advanced training to EU customs, law enforcement and security officers using a wide variety of radioactive and nuclear materials, as well as a broad selection of measurement instruments for the detection of nuclear and radioactive materials out of regulatory control. Our experts have trained over 2 000 EU first responders since 2010.
EUSECTRA was established specifically to address concerns about the theft and trafficking of radioactive materials, which could be used in crimes such as acts of terrorism. These concerns, from the widespread use of radioactive materials for medical and industrial applications, are acknowledged by the international community in numerous international commitments and resolutions.
