The objective of the GEMINI 4.0 project is to demonstrate that the high temperature nuclear cogeneration system developed in GEMINI+ can provide a global solution for the competitive and safe decarbonization of industrial activities. The project aims to achieve this objective through four main steps:

1. Consolidate the GEMINI+ system safety demonstration and ensure that its licensing readiness is assessed by regulators and TSOs including the scenario in which it is used in poly-generation mode.
2. Develop the capability of the GEMINI+ system to operate in a cost-effective way in poly-generation mode.
3. Plan for the development of a consistent fuel cycle for high temperature reactors with respect to fissile resources as well as a safe, and an acceptable back-end.
4. Implement an ambitious communication plan aimed towards political stakeholders, industry stakeholders and the general public, with the goal of removing obstacles to nuclear solutions for the decarbonisation of industry.

The GEMINI 4.0 project will build on the groundwork laid by GEMINI+ and earlier projects carried out by NC2I, which defined the bases for the design and licensing framework of a HTR addressing European industry needs of process heat reliant on steam distribution networks that are already operated presently on many European industrial sites.

• Validation of safety options of high temperature reactors as candidate reactors for cogeneration initiatives for high energy-consuming industries
• Demonstration of the feasibility of coupled nuclear cogeneration technologies and installations at industrial scale
• Confirmation of whether a generic design for a high temperature reactor can be proposed for licensing, with the early involvement of regulators, and how a licensing process can be launched at the European level
• Socio-economic evaluation of the introduction of cogeneration with temperatures relevant to high temperature reactors in the industrial landscape of European regions with high energy-consuming industries.

FRAMATOME / LGI SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION / ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE / FRAMATOME GMBH / INSTYTUT CHEMII I TECHNIKI JADROWEJ / INSTITUT DE RADIOPROTECTION ET DE SURETE NUCLEAIRE / NARODOWE CENTRUM BADAN JADROWYCH / NUCLEAR RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY GROUP / TRACTEBEL / TUV-R / ULTRA SAFE NUCLEAR CORPORATION EUROPE / HIT TECH RELAY / VTT / BRIVATECH / SYNTHOS GREEN ENERGY / CENTRUM VYZKUMU REZ / JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE – EUROPEAN COMMISSION / KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE / JAPAN ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY / NATIONAL NUCLEAR LABORATORY / UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

June 2022 – May 2025 – 3 years

Technical Project Leader:

Michel Pasquet (Framatome)

Email: michel.pasquet@framatome.com

A factsheet containing the key information about this project is available for download below.

This project has received funding from the Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement No 101059603.