Tecnatom is participating in the European NOMAD (“Non-destructive Evaluation System for the Inspection of Operation-Induced Material Degradation in Nuclear Power Plants“) research project. The objective of this project is to develop an inspection system based on non-destructive testing techniques aimed at ensuring the safe extension of the operational lifetime of nuclear power plants.
In the European Union some 200 nuclear power plants supply the grids with electricity, more than half of which will exceed 40 years of operation by 2020. With a view to guaranteeing electricity supply over the coming decades, the EU is promoting the extension of the operating lifetime of the current plants to 60 or 80 years.
Tecnatom is participating in the project as an end user and will attempt to guide it with its experience and knowledge in order to contribute to ensuring that the inspection techniques and technologies developed are suitable for the actual conditions of the nuclear power plants.
The new NOMAD research project, launched in June 2017, will make a significant contribution to guaranteeing environmental policies and the safety of the European public through the development of a new and reliable evaluation tool allowing insight to be gained into the current status of the materials at each plant.
