Introducing the high-temperature reactor into the market - status and strategy

The pebble bed high-temperature reactor has been taken to the threshold of commercialization in more than 30 years of development. On the basis of the experience gained with the 15-MW AVR reactor and the THTR 300, marketable plant sizes (HTR 500, HTR Module, gas-cooled heating reactor - GHR) have been developed for the electricity and heat market, which are now available for future energy supply. The high-temperature reactor represents a reasonable supplement to the proven light-water reactors and is particularly suited for export to developing countries and industrial threshold countries in view of its technical and safety characteristics and its wide range of applications in the electricity and heat market. ABB and Siemens have decided to pursue the future HTR product development and marketing activities in a long-term strategy by the joint HTR-GmbH company. There is a worldwide interest in the HTR which is manifested by several international cooperation agreements. (orig.)