Ibaraki seeks to host demo reactor for next-gen nuclear power
A test reactor for next-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology is currently operating in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture, as a precursor to a planned demonstration reactor. (Keitaro Fukuchi)
Ibaraki Prefecture is seeking to host the country's first demonstration reactor for next-generation nuclear technology known as the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR).
Local officials announced on June 2 that they have formally submitted a request to the government to have the first municipality in the nation to host the advanced nuclear facility.
HTGRs are considered to offer higher efficiency and improved safety technology compared to conventional light-water reactors.
They can also be used to produce hydrogen, a key fuel in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The government has prioritized the development of HTGR technology, aiming to begin operations of the demonstration reactor in the latter half of the 2030s.
The reactor would serve as an intermediary step before full commercial deployment. It will be built at a scale closer to that of grid-connected reactors to assess its economic viability.
Unlike conventional reactors that use water for cooling, HTGRs utilize helium gas, enabling them to reach much higher temperatures.
These temperatures could be harnessed not only for power generation but also for the production of hydrogen, which is in high demand in the prefecture's coastal industrial areas.
The prefecture currently hosts a test reactor for HTGR technology in the coastal town of Oarai. Officials emphasize the advantage of the proximity, arguing that expanding upon this foundation would maximize the efficiency of research and development efforts.
The government has been pushing the HTGR project since fiscal 2023, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries selected as the primary contractor responsible for the reactor's design and eventual construction.
Further details, including the criteria for site selection, have yet to be determined.
(This article was written by Satoshi Shinden and Morio Choh.)
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