Technology & Fuel
Otrera is a fourth-generation nuclear reactor, belonging to the category of sodium-cooled fast reactors. This model stands out due to its technological innovations that enable it to efficiently reuse nuclear materials. It is designed for long operational autonomy, enhanced safety, and optimal economic performance. As a low-carbon energy source, Otrera plays a crucial role in the energy transition, fostering a sustainable and responsible future.
The Industrial Vision
Our company positions itself as a nuclear reactor designer and system architect, embodying a unique industrial vision rooted in a constant pursuit of safety and industrial excellence.
We distinguish our approach through a meticulous integration of 50 years of lessons learned from the French sodium sector, including successes and past industrial errors in the nuclear sector, enabling us to create reliable and efficient solutions.
We forge our industrial progress based on a culture of continuous improvement and project-based methodology.
The “building blocks ” with added value that constitute our reactor have been analyzed and integrated into our reactor design, and lessons learned are meticulously transformed into a source of learning and implemented. The unreliability of large components is one such example. We have drawn crucial lessons from this in terms of reliability and safety, thus guiding our technological advancements.
We integrate best industrial practices from other sectors, notably systems engineering and digital continuity. We draw inspiration from the successes of the aerospace and automotive industries to optimize our processes and ensure the reliability of our reactor. We consider industrialization a major pillar of our project and quality management a daily commitment.
Finally, knowledge and know-how management is an integral part of our industrial policy. The diversity of both technical and industrial profiles from the outset allows us to maximize operational efficiency, optimize processes, and innovate continuously. This holistic approach fosters better adaptation to technological developments and market demands, thereby strengthening our position in the nuclear energy sector for years to come.
By integrating these industrial principles, we aim to produce nuclear reactors efficiently, on schedule, and in series.
The Technology
OTRERA is developing an innovative 4th generation Sodium Fast Reactor that incorporates technological advancements. It stands out for its ability to reuse spent fuel assemblies, its extended operational autonomy, enhanced safety, and economic performance. Otrera offers competitive low-carbon nuclear energy, thus contributing to the energy transition towards a sustainable and responsible future.
Autonomy and Adaptability
The reactor’s operational autonomy – approximately 10 years – and its operational flexibility allow it to constantly adjust to demand while preserving service continuity.
This thus secures electricity production. The OTRERA 110 reactor produces 110 MW of electricity and 180 MW of heat at 100-150°C, which can be easily multiplied by deploying several reactors and modulated to adapt to needs.
Similarly, the hyper-modularity of the reactor’s architecture will allow for the design of a range of reactors based on the same components (from OTRERA 20 to OTRERA 200) for a perfect fit to demand and access to even broader markets.
Cogeneration and Multiple Utilities
Thanks to a gas energy conversion cycle, the OTRERA reactor produces not only electricity but also heat through cogeneration. This electricity and heat can be used for industrial sites and cities for heating, to produce hydrogen for freight and public transport, to capture its surplus CO2, to desalinate water for coastal sites or cities, and to redevelop industrial brownfields by integrating decarbonized industries, thereby restoring interaction between industry and the city.
Reduced Construction Costs and Enhanced Security
The reactor’s design was conceived to reduce construction and operating costs and to offer electricity and heat supply at competitive prices. In fact, its design is simplified, robust, with a footprint of approximately 5,000 m2.
The Otrera reactor design also integrates essential safety and security criteria. Enhanced containment barriers, passive cooling systems, and safety features are integrated to minimize accident risks and their impacts, and to ensure maximum protection of the environment and the population.
An Innovative 4th Generation Reactor
OTRERA reuses spent fuel assemblies currently stored in pools and recycles its own waste. To do this, our reactor relies on Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) technology. Thus, any country that has operated or is operating nuclear reactors possesses this resource on its soil.
The reactor’s long operational autonomy – approximately 10 years – and its operational flexibility allow it to constantly adjust to demand while preserving service continuity. This has the benefit of securing stable and reliable electricity production (110 MW).
This production, as well as the cogeneration of heat (185 MW), allows cities to be heated, to produce hydrogen for freight and public transport, to capture its surplus CO2, to desalinate water for coastal cities, and to redevelop industrial brownfields by integrating decarbonized industries, thereby restoring interaction between industry and the city.
The reactor’s design was conceived to reduce construction and operating costs and offers the supply of electricity and heat at competitive prices.
The Otrera reactor design also integrates essential safety and security criteria. Enhanced containment barriers, passive cooling systems, and intrinsic safety features are carefully integrated to minimize the risks of nuclear accidents and ensure maximum protection of the environment and the population.
IN BRIEF, Otrera is an innovative 4th generation Sodium Fast Reactor that incorporates technological advancements. It stands out for its ability to reuse spent fuel assemblies, its extended operational autonomy, enhanced safety, and economic performance. Otrera offers competitive low-carbon nuclear energy, thus contributing to the energy transition towards a sustainable and responsible future.
What is a 4th Generation Nuclear Reactor?
A 4th generation nuclear reactor is a technological advancement that improves safety, efficiency, and waste management.
- These new-generation reactors use advanced cooling systems, such as sodium (Otrera’s choice) or gas, to regulate temperature more efficiently.
- They integrate enhanced safety designs, with improved containment barriers and security features.
- Furthermore, they aim for sustainability by reducing the environmental footprint and offering complementary applications, such as heat and hydrogen production.
Understanding Sodium Fast Reactors
Sodium Fast Reactors (SFR) are an advanced 4th generation nuclear reactor technology.
- SFRs use liquid sodium as a coolant and heat transfer fluid. Sodium, thanks to its unique thermal and chemical properties, allows for efficient dissipation of heat produced by the nuclear reaction.
- SFR reactors operate with fast neutrons, which allows them to use nuclear fuel more efficiently and reduce waste production.
- Furthermore, this technology is well-mastered in France, a testament to years of research and development, design, construction, operation, and even decommissioning.
- Sodium Fast Reactor technology is considered one of the most promising for safe, sustainable, and efficient nuclear energy production in the future.