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MYRRHA, Multi-purpose hYbrid Research Reactor for High-tech Applications.

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MYRRHA, a world first in many ways

The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) is actively working on designing and building this multifunctional research installation in Mol. MYRRHA is the very first prototype in the world of a nuclear reactor, driven by a particle accelerator with a significant thermal output. Discover what MYRRHA is all about and how you can contribute to this future-oriented challenge.

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Safe, efficient and waste-reducing

It is vitally important to ensure that an innovative research installation can be operated safely. MYRRHA's Accelerator Driven System has two major advantages:

Nuclear reactions can be easily and safely controlled
The volume of radioactive waste will be reduced considerably

Radioisotopes for the world

Our world is seriously in need of medical radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating a number of diseases, such as cancer:

MYRRHA will meet increasing demand
MYRRHA will guarantee global supply

MYRRHA is designed to to take over and extend the role of an existing reactor that is playing a major role in international research.

MYRRHA is building on the past
MYRRHA will enable the execution of smart irradiation tests

Come and work at MYRRHA

Would you like to be part of making this innovative and challenging research installation a reality? We need bright people with a scientific, operational and international background who are full of enthusiasm and who believe in the future of what we are doing. Join the MYRRHA team!

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News

Walloon Government delegation visits MYRRHA

08/05/2019

The International jury of the Marshall Plan Competition Poles of the Walloon government visited the MYRRHA project today. During the visit, the jury members discovered the project’s different components and associated support R&D program in order to identify opportunities for industrial partners in Wallonia for contributing to MYRRHA.

According to a socio-economic impact study by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2017, the MYRRHA research project offers significant opportunities for industrial partners in the three regions of Belgium and in Europe. The world’s first Accelerator Driven System consists of a linear particle accelerator that drives a lead-bismuth cooled reactor and a Proton Target Facility for radio-isotope production and physics research. The PwC study envisages € 6,700 million of economic added value and a job creation of 34,000 FTE's from construction (starting in 2021) to exploitation (until 2065). PwC pointed to Wallonia’s expertise in construction, research and management consulting. In fact, the initial phase that will deliver fundamental stability for the entire accelerator is being researched and implemented at Louvain-la-Neuve.

During the visit, the jury members of the Marshall Plan’s Competition Poles led by its chairman Mr Luc Van Steenkiste immersed themselves in MYRRHA’s various technologies to gain a better understanding of the opportunities MYRRHA offers to several industrial sectors in Wallonia. MYRRHA Director Hamid Aït Abderrahim briefed them extensively of the project’s phased implementation. In a first phase, the linear accelerator will be built with a 100 MeV output. In addition extending the accelerator to 600 MeV, designing the lead-bismuth cooled reactor and obtaining a license will be prepared, so that they can be executed in the project’s second and third phases. At the end of the visit, both delegations were optimistic that it had contributed to mutually rewarding future cooperation.

MYRRHA financing is secured

12/02/2019

In response to an article in the Belgian daily De Standaard of 12 February 2019, SCK•CEN would like to repeat that the MYRRHA project’s financing is secured and is not affected by political developments in the country. The decision to finance MYRRHA, a new large research infrastructure, was made by a majority government on 7 September 2018 and remains in place, despite the resignation of that government in December 2018. With a caretaker government in place, MYRRHA continues to be funded this year via the generally recognised system of provisional twelfths that applies to all federal government expenditure. For the MYRRHA project at SCK•CEN, it remains business as usual. The first MYRRHA components are currently being assembled and tested in Mol and Louvain-la-Neuve.

MYRRHA is a large nuclear research facility which is of paramount importance for society in more ways than one. This infrastructure aims at developing an innovative solution to sharply reduce the mass and storage duration of nuclear high-level radioactive waste.

Another huge challenge addressed by MYRRHA is nuclear medicine research and development. MYRRHA will contribute to the development of new radioisotopes that will enable less invasive cancer therapies.

With its unique accelerator driven set-up, MYRRHA is bound to attract a wide range of scientists and engineers. MYRRHA represents a distinctive fundamental and applied research infrastructure that will contribute to the innovative world awaiting us all.

All eyes on MYRRHA during the 62nd IAEA General Conference

19/09/2018

MYRRHA drew a lot of attention at the 62nd IAEA General Conference, which was held on 17-21 September in Vienna this year. The increased interest is the result of the recent decision by the Belgian government to build this worldwide unique infrastructure, thanks to a financing of 558 million euros.

The multi-purpose research installation MYRRHA drew a lot of attention at the 62nd IAEA General Conference (International Atomic Energy Agency), which was held on 17-21 September in Vienna this year. The increased interest is the result of the recent decision by the Belgian government to build this worldwide unique infrastructure, thanks to a financing of 558 million euros.

The research installation MYRRHA has a very clear ambition: to offer a technological solution to reduce nuclear waste and produce new types of medical radioisotopes. “Through a technology that drastically reduces the volume and radiotoxicity of high-level waste, MYRRHA shortens the period of storage so that, from some hundred thousand years, it goes down to some hundreds of years. MYRRHA therefore plays a crucial role for society”, explains Hamid Aït Abderrahim, SCK•CEN Deputy Director-General and Director of MYRRHA. In the future, the research infrastructure will also contribute to the research into and the production of theranostic radioisotopes (for diagnose research and therapeutic treatment).

The Belgian government acknowledges the social value of this project. The authorities consequently decided to support the project by investing 558 million euros in it. “Thanks to the Belgian financing, we can launch the construction of MYRRHA. We will start with the particle accelerator and its target facilities for fundamental and applied research as well as medical applications”, states Hamid Aït Abderrahim (SCK•CEN). Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem: “Belgium belongs to the most innovative countries in the world and plays a crucial role in the development of innovative, safe and sustainable nuclear technology through the MYRRHA project. As Special Envoy of the Federal Government to support the MYRRHA project, I focus on finding foreign partners to work jointly with the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre on the further development of the prototype of a nuclear reactor driven by a particle accelerator. This increased interest is an important stimulus for foreign investors and will most certainly draw them into this very promising project.”

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Publications

18/08/2018

Effect of deformation twinning on dissolution corrosion of 316 L stainless steels in contact with static liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 500 °C.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 510, 18.08.2018, p. 556-567.

01/08/2018

Numerical modeling of oxygen mass transfer in a wire wrapped fuel assembly under flowing lead bismuth eutectic.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 506, 01.08.2018, p. 53-62.

29/05/2018

Charge radii and electromagnetic moments of 195-211At.

Physical Review C, Vol. 97, No. 054327, 054327, 29.05.2018, p. 1-19.

All publications

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Science towards sustainability