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Feb. 2, 2022
Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Participation in the World’s First Summit of National Laboratories on Integrated Energy Systems
~ Eight national laboratories from across the energy space, encompassing nuclear, renewables and other low-carbon technologies, meet to progress COP26 aims ~

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) participated in the world’s first summit of national laboratories on integrated energy systems1) which was organized on January 26. The summit was held on the initiative of UK National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) in the year of the U.K. presidency of COP and brought together both nuclear and non-nuclear energy research institutes of the countries concerned to maintain the momentum towards decarbonization after COP26. Based on the statement adopted at this summit, JAEA will promote the sharing of knowledge on the study of integrated energy systems with participating institutes.

(Background)

In order to achieve carbon neutrality, it is essential not only to develop and upgrade individual clean energy sources, but also to optimize the energy system as a whole through an approach that examines the integrated energy systems. For example, it is important to combine individual energy technologies, such as nuclear and renewable energy, from the perspective of efficiently and sustainably supplying energy such as electricity, heat and hydrogen in accordance with demand. Considering the perspective, major countries and international organizations are conducting research on modeling and simulation of energy system, including nuclear energy and renewable energy. Nuclear energy is expected to play a complementary role to renewable energy in terms of its availability for stable power supply and output adjustment, as well as its potential of non-power application such as heat and hydrogen production.

JAEA has been exploring the potential of high temperature gas-cooled reactors for heat utilization and hydrogen production. We also have started conceptual studies of an energy system that combines nuclear energy including fast reactors and high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and renewable energy. We decided to participate in this initiative in which research institutes in non-nuclear fields also participate, considering integrated energy systems requires an all-out effort by the energy community, not just nuclear energy community.

(Overview of the Summit)

The Summit, organized by NNL, saw senior delegates from eight national laboratories across Canada, France, Japan, the U.K and U.S, each presenting effort they are making and adopted a statement (Attachment 1) that aims to share best practice in research and innovation in areas such as

  • Enabling and preparing for flexibility in the way energy can be used;
  • Identifying energy needs across industry sectors, and optimizing existing and new infrastructure to deliver energy in the most efficient ways
  • Demonstrating the maturity of the specific technological building blocks required for proof of concept, demonstrators, or the ‘First of a Kind’ of future integrated energy systems.

<Participants>

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) [Canada]

Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA) [France]

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) [Japan]

Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) [Japan]

National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) [UK]

Energy Systems Catapult [UK]

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) [US]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) [US]

1) Integrated Energy Systems

In the statement adopted at this summit it is stated that “an Integrated Energy System can combine low carbon energy sources, such as nuclear and renewables, leveraging the benefits of each technology and their mode of operation to provide reliable, sustainable and affordable low-carbon energy, and energy services that benefit our citizens.”

Attachment : Statement of Intent on Collaboration in Integrated Energy Systems between

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