- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been selected by the Japanese government to lead the conceptual design and research and development of a demonstration sodium-cooled fast reactor.
- MHI will collaborate with Mitsubishi FBR Systems Inc. (MFBR), an MHI Group engineering company, to spearhead the project.
- The initiative is part of Japan’s strategic roadmap for fast-reactor development, with the goal of realizing the operation of the sodium-cooled fast reactor in the 2040s, showcasing MHI’s expertise and commitment to advancing nuclear power technology.
The Japanese government has recently entrusted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) with the pivotal role of leading the conceptual design and research and development of a demonstration sodium-cooled fast reactor. Tokyo-based engineering firm, MHI, will collaborate with Mitsubishi FBR Systems Inc. (MFBR), an MHI Group engineering company established in 2007 to specialize in the development and design of fast breeder reactors.
Scheduled to commence in the fiscal year 2024, the conceptual design work represents a significant milestone in Japan’s strategic roadmap for fast-reactor development. This roadmap, adopted by the Japanese Cabinet in December 2018, outlined a policy to evaluate various technologies to be developed through competition among private-sector companies. In December 2022, the Cabinet made two critical decisions: firstly, to designate a sodium-cooled fast reactor as the target for the conceptual design of the demonstration unit, and secondly, to select a manufacturer to take the lead in reactor design and the essential research and development.
MHI’s expertise and track record played a pivotal role in their selection for this undertaking. The company was previously chosen in 2007 to lead a research program focused on fast reactors, based on their extensive technological capabilities and experience garnered from participating in the development and construction of the Joyo experimental fast reactor and Monju prototype reactor.
After the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011, MHI drew from its knowledge to propose the concept of a safety-enhanced sodium fast reactor at the Generation IV International Forum. Alongside the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, MHI also led a study on global safety standardization, further contributing to their expertise in this area. Subsequently, MHI, in collaboration with MFBR, has been actively engaged in plant conceptual studies and research and development efforts aimed at bringing fast reactors to fruition.
Building on these experiences, MHI has been instrumental in the joint design and development of France’s next-generation fast reactors, a project initiated in 2014. Furthermore, they have applied the acquired knowledge to a feasibility study concerning the reactor’s implementation in Japan, while concurrently exploring the plant concept.
The ambitious endeavor aims to advance Japan’s nuclear power technology and bring about a sodium-cooled fast reactor capable of operation in the 2040s. This collaborative effort between MHI and MFBR, under the guidance of the Japanese government, represents a significant stride towards ensuring a sustainable and efficient future for nuclear power generation in Japan and beyond.
