Technical and economical problems, research work and plans related to the use of heat generating reactors for district heating in Finland

Small heat generating reactors possess the technical, economical and safety prerequisites for heat supply in Finnland. At present, the main obstacles to further progress are increasing doubts about safety criteria and operating experience in this field. The use of small nuclear reactors for heat supply requires the simultaneous electricity generation from nuclear power. The decision on the construction of small heat generating reactions in Finland in the eighties will depend on the international and national development in the nuclear field and on the trend of prices and resources of fossil fuel. (author)