European clearinghouse on nuclear power plants operational experience feedback

Abstract

Learning from operational experience and applying this knowledge promptly and intelligently is one of the ways to improve the safety of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Recent reviews of the effectiveness of Operational Experience Feedback (OEF) systems have pointed to the need for further improvement, with importance being placed on tailoring the information to the needs of the regulators. In 2007, at the request of a number of nuclear safety regulatory authorities in Europe, the Institute for Energy of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (EC JRC) initiated a project on Nuclear Power Plant operational experience feedback, which adopts an integrated approach to the research needed to strengthen the European capabilities for assessment of NPP operational events and to promote the development of tools and mechanisms for the improved application of the lessons learned. Consequently, a so-called “European Clearinghouse” on NPP OEF was established, which includes scientific officers from the EC JRC, a number of European nuclear safety regulatory authorities and some of their Technical Support Organizations (TSOs). The paper discusses the activities implemented in 2008 within the framework of the European Clearinghouse on NPP OEF (hereinafter called the European NPP Clearinghouse) and provides an overview of the main conclusions drawn from the safety studies performed. Outlook of the activities carried out in 2009 are given.

European clearinghouse: Development areas and priorities in operational experience feedback for nuclear power plants

“…It felt im por tant to use well es tab lished JRC work ing mech a nisms and means, as well as avail able EU coun tries and JRC tech ni cal exper tise in the field in or der to pro mote better co-op er ation, more ef fec tive use of the lim ited na tional resources of the MS and strength en ing the EU ca pa bil i ties for op er a tional ex pe ri ence anal y ses and dis sem i na tion of the les sons learnt. In 2008, the EU Clear ing house on OEF for NPP was launched and a cen tral ised of fice was es tab lished at the JRC [5,6].…”

Disturbances in the European Nuclear Power Plant Safety Related Electrical Systems

“…In the European Union, in order to support the Community activities on evaluation of NPP operational events, a centralized regional "Clearinghouse on NPP operational experience feedback (OEF) was established in 2008 at the JRC-IE, on request of nuclear Safety Authorities of several European Member States, in order to improve the communication and information sharing on OEF, to promote regional collaboration on analyses of operational experience and dissemination of the lessons learned [1].…”